ArthroCare (Nasdaq: ARTC) is expected to report Q1 earnings around May 1. 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 ArthroCare's revenues will grow 1.6% and EPS will decrease -19.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $94.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.37.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, ArthroCare logged revenue of $96.9 million. GAAP reported sales were 4.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $92.4 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 $0.53. GAAP EPS were $0.30 for Q4 compared to -$0.91 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 71.4%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.3%, 380 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.5%, much better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $379.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 132 members out of 265 rating the stock outperform, and 133 members rating it underperform. Among 92 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 38 give ArthroCare a green thumbs-up, and 54 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on ArthroCare is outperform, with an average price target of $36.63.

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