Foster Wheeler (Nasdaq: FWLT) is expected to report Q1 earnings on May 2. 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 Foster Wheeler's revenues will decrease -9.4% and EPS will wither -52.5%.

The average estimate for revenue is $845.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.19.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Foster Wheeler reported revenue of $735.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 35% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.13 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 $0.27. GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q4 were 82% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 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 21.2%, 770 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.6%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.9%, 260 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.76 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.48.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,631 members out of 1,682 rating the stock outperform, and 51 members rating it underperform. Among 337 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 327 give Foster Wheeler a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Foster Wheeler is outperform, with an average price target of $29.43.

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