Hershey (NYSE: HSY) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 31. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
 Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Hershey's revenues will expand 8.8% and EPS will expand 7.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.71 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.75.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Hershey chalked up revenue of $1.75 billion. GAAP reported sales were 7.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.62 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.87. GAAP EPS of $0.77 for Q3 were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.86 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Recent performance
 For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 42.8%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.0%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.1%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $6.60 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.24.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 528 members out of 633 rating the stock outperform, and 105 members rating it underperform. Among 193 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 171 give Hershey a green thumbs-up, and 22 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Hershey is outperform, with an average price target of $72.93.

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