LMI Aerospace (Nasdaq: LMIA) is expected to report Q4 earnings on March 12. 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 LMI Aerospace's revenues will expand 11.2% and EPS will grow 14.3%.

The average estimate for revenue is $72.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.40.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, LMI Aerospace notched revenue of $70.6 million. GAAP reported sales were 9.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $64.8 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 $0.51. GAAP EPS of $0.48 for Q3 were 37% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.35 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 26.3%, 260 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.8%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.0%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $279.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.72.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 123 members out of 130 rating the stock outperform, and seven members rating it underperform. Among 26 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 23 give LMI Aerospace a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on LMI Aerospace is buy, with an average price target of $27.67.

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