Acme Packet (Nasdaq: APKT) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 4. 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 Acme Packet's revenues will shrink -17.1% and EPS will compress -69.2%.

The average estimate for revenue is $68.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.08.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Acme Packet reported revenue of $65.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 7.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $70.6 million.

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 $0.07. GAAP EPS were -$0.08 for Q3 versus $0.11 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 78.8%, 450 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -10.2%, 2,850 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -8.4%, 1,960 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $272.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.45.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 471 members out of 536 rating the stock outperform, and 65 members rating it underperform. Among 140 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 131 give Acme Packet a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Acme Packet is hold, with an average price target of $16.91.

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