Will EchoStar Beat These Analyst Estimates?

EchoStar (Nasdaq: SATS  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 20. 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 EchoStar's revenues will shrink -3.4% and EPS will decrease -125.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $805.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.02.

Revenue details
Last quarter, EchoStar reported revenue of $764.7 million. GAAP reported sales were 11% lower than the prior-year quarter's $863.2 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, EPS came in at $0.26. GAAP EPS were $0.26 for Q3 versus -$0.22 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 32.3%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.1%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.9%, 510 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.14 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.45.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 154 members out of 161 rating the stock outperform, and seven members rating it underperform. Among 66 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 65 give EchoStar a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on EchoStar is buy, with an average price target of $43.00.

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