Can Express Scripts Holding Meet These Numbers?

Express scripts Holding (Nasdaq: ESRX  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 18. 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 Express scripts Holding's revenues will increase 126.0% and EPS will grow 28.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $27.35 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.05.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Express scripts Holding booked revenue of $27.00 billion. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $11.57 billion.

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 $1.02. GAAP EPS of $0.47 for Q3 were 29% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.66 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 8.0%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.8%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.4%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $94.16 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.72.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 782 members out of 829 rating the stock outperform, and 47 members rating it underperform. Among 234 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 225 give Express scripts Holding 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 Express scripts Holding is outperform, with an average price target of $69.15.

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