Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 24. 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 Southern Company's revenues will expand 4.1% and EPS will grow 16.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $3.75 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.49.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Southern Company recorded revenue of $3.70 billion. GAAP reported sales were 0.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.70 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, EPS came in at $0.44. GAAP EPS of $0.44 for Q4 were 47% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.30 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 40.2%, 660 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.0%, 610 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.3%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $17.77 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.76.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,031 members out of 1,089 rating the stock outperform, and 58 members rating it underperform. Among 327 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 318 give Southern Company a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Southern Company is hold, with an average price target of $46.27.

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