Natural Gas Services Group (NYSE: NGS) is expected to report Q1 earnings on May 9. 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 Natural Gas Services Group's revenues will shrink -18.8% and EPS will decrease -10.3%.

The average estimate for revenue is $21.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.26.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Natural Gas Services Group booked revenue of $23.5 million. GAAP reported sales were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $18.6 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, EPS came in at $0.29. GAAP EPS of $0.29 for Q4 were 16% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.25 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 48.6%, 440 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 23.5%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.2%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $92.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.12.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 449 members out of 469 rating the stock outperform, and 20 members rating it underperform. Among 59 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 53 give Natural Gas Services Group a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Natural Gas Services Group is buy, with an average price target of $19.20.

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