Otter Tail (Nasdaq: OTTR) is expected to report Q1 earnings on May 6. 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 Otter Tail's revenues will wane -19.1% and EPS will grow 25.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $224.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Otter Tail reported revenue of $212.6 million. GAAP reported sales were 18% lower than the prior-year quarter's $25.4 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 $0.47. GAAP EPS were $0.07 for Q4 compared to -$1.23 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 143.7%, 830 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 77.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.3%, much better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $896.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 917 members out of 943 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 301 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 294 give Otter Tail a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Otter Tail is hold, with an average price target of $24.67.

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