Green Plains Renewable Energy (Nasdaq: GPRE) 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 Green Plains Renewable Energy's revenues will increase 1.8% and EPS will remain in the red.

The average estimate for revenue is $789.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.07.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Green Plains Renewable Energy tallied revenue of $883.7 million. GAAP reported sales were 4.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $922.8 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 $0.21. GAAP EPS of $0.92 for Q4 were 156% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.36 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 4.7%, 90 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.4%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.7%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.22 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.51.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 83 members out of 136 rating the stock outperform, and 53 members rating it underperform. Among 38 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 20 give Green Plains Renewable Energy a green thumbs-up, and 18 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Green Plains Renewable Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $9.00.

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