Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) is expected to report Q3 earnings on March 7. 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 Smithfield Foods's revenues will grow 1.0% and EPS will decrease -26.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $3.51 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.51.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Smithfield Foods reported revenue of $3.23 billion. GAAP reported sales were 2.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.31 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 $0.61. GAAP EPS of $0.07 for Q2 were 91% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.74 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 11.7%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.3%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.3%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $13.16 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.09.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 205 members out of 244 rating the stock outperform, and 39 members rating it underperform. Among 87 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 75 give Smithfield Foods a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Smithfield Foods is hold, with an average price target of $21.80.

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