What to Expect from Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications (Nasdaq: FTR  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 21. 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 Frontier Communications's revenues will decrease -3.5% and EPS will drop -14.3%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.24 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.06.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Frontier Communications logged revenue of $1.25 billion. GAAP reported sales were 3.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.29 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, EPS came in at $0.07. GAAP EPS of $0.07 for Q3 were 250% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.02 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 91.9%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.3%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.3%, 370 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $5.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.26.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 969 members out of 1,079 rating the stock outperform, and 110 members rating it underperform. Among 216 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 193 give Frontier Communications a green thumbs-up, and 23 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Frontier Communications is hold, with an average price target of $5.16.

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