Seaspan Earnings Up Next

Seaspan (NYSE: SSW  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings around March 1. 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 Seaspan's revenues will grow 8.3% and EPS will wane -9.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $168.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Seaspan chalked up revenue of $168.7 million. GAAP reported sales were 8.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $154.8 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, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.30. GAAP EPS were $0.01 for Q3 compared to -$2.01 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 77.7%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 49.2%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.6%, 8,980 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $656.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.24.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 834 members out of 870 rating the stock outperform, and 36 members rating it underperform. Among 215 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 206 give Seaspan 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 Seaspan is hold, with an average price target of $17.33.

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