Ship Finance International (NYSE: SFL) is expected to report Q1 earnings around May 23. 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 Ship Finance International's revenues will decrease -19.7% and EPS will contract -50.8%.

The average estimate for revenue is $67.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.30.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Ship Finance International logged revenue of $77.7 million. GAAP reported sales were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $76.2 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 $0.34. GAAP EPS of $0.60 for Q4 were 58% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.38 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 61.7%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 37.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 79.2%, much better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $293.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.23.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 506 members out of 533 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 98 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 89 give Ship Finance International a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ship Finance International is outperform, with an average price target of $19.02.

Is Ship Finance International the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.