Can Alliant Energy Meet These Numbers?

Alliant Energy (NYSE: LNT  ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on May 3. 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 Alliant Energy's revenues will contract 0.0% and EPS will grow 24.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $765.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.62.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Alliant Energy booked revenue of $750.9 million. GAAP reported sales were 1.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $760.8 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 $0.61. GAAP EPS of $0.61 for Q4 were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 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 28.1%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.5%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.1%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.23 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.13.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 85 members out of 99 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 32 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 27 give Alliant Energy a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alliant Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $48.29.

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