Are You Expecting This from Duke Energy?

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 13. 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 Duke Energy's revenues will increase 56.5% and EPS will drop -9.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $5.27 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Duke Energy booked revenue of $6.72 billion. GAAP reported sales were 71% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.88 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 $1.47. GAAP EPS of $0.85 for Q3 were 20% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.06 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 44.1%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 29.1%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.9%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $20.40 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.26.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,862 members out of 1,952 rating the stock outperform, and 90 members rating it underperform. Among 496 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 482 give Duke Energy a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Duke Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $68.70.

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