Natural Gas Services Group (NYSE: NGS) is expected to report Q4 earnings around March 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 Natural Gas Services Group's revenues will grow 7.5% and EPS will drop -8.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $20.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Natural Gas Services Group booked revenue of $19.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 9.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $17.7 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 $0.21. GAAP EPS of $0.21 for Q3 were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.18 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 52.8%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.0%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.5%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $90.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.96.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 450 members out of 469 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 63 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 58 give Natural Gas Services Group a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Natural Gas Services Group is buy, with an average price target of $18.80.

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