Stillwater Mining (NYSE: SWC) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Feb. 21. 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 Stillwater Mining's revenues will shrink -16.2% and EPS will wane -66.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $217.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.07.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Stillwater Mining booked revenue of $181.0 million. GAAP reported sales were 29% lower than the prior-year quarter's $253.7 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, EPS came in at $0.11. GAAP EPS of $0.11 for Q3 were 70% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.37 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 21.6%, 920 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.3%, 1,170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.2%, 890 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $800.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.33.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 622 members out of 672 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 144 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 130 give Stillwater Mining a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Stillwater Mining is outperform, with an average price target of $13.96.

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