Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 5. 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 Arch Coal's revenues will wane -18.8% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $997.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.14.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Arch Coal tallied revenue of $1.09 billion. GAAP reported sales were 9.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.20 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 $0.20. GAAP EPS of $0.22 for Q3 were 450% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.04 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 17.5%, 300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.0%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.2%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $4.18 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.36.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,484 members out of 1,561 rating the stock outperform, and 77 members rating it underperform. Among 332 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 316 give Arch Coal a green thumbs-up, and 16 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Arch Coal is hold, with an average price target of $9.33.

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