Can Arkansas Best Meet These Numbers?

Arkansas Best (Nasdaq: ABFS  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 30. 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 Arkansas Best's revenues will expand 11.6% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $517.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.04.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Arkansas Best chalked up revenue of $577.5 million. GAAP reported sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $510.9 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 $0.24. GAAP EPS of $0.24 for Q3 were 48% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.46 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 7.6%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.1%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.1%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.05 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.24.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 111 members out of 129 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 38 give Arkansas Best 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 Arkansas Best is hold, with an average price target of $14.05.

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