Can Carriage Services Beat These Numbers?

Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 25. 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 Carriage Services's revenues will grow 10.2% and EPS will increase 109.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $52.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Carriage Services reported revenue of $49.5 million. GAAP reported sales were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $43.4 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 $0.16. GAAP EPS of $0.03 for Q3 were 25% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.04 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 32.7%, 370 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.1%, 430 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.2%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $204.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.84.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 107 members out of 116 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 29 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 28 give Carriage Services a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Carriage Services is outperform, with an average price target of $10.25.

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