TransAlta (NYSE: TAC) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 27. 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 TransAlta's revenues will contract -9.7% and EPS will grow 115.4%.

The average estimate for revenue is $622.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, TransAlta chalked up revenue of $546.2 million. GAAP reported sales were 9.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $605.5 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 $0.18. GAAP EPS of $0.24 for Q3 were 9.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.22 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 41.1%, 410 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.8%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.9%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.31 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.58.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 88 members out of 93 rating the stock outperform, and five members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 25 give TransAlta a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on TransAlta is hold, with an average price target of $21.96.

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