Clean Energy Fuels Earnings Up Next

Clean Energy Fuels (Nasdaq: CLNE  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 28. 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 Clean Energy Fuels's revenues will grow 5.6% and EPS will remain in the red.

The average estimate for revenue is $91.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.18.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Clean Energy Fuels reported revenue of $91.5 million. GAAP reported sales were 27% higher than the prior-year quarter's $72.1 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 -$0.19. GAAP EPS were -$0.19 for Q3 compared to -$0.16 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 22.1%, 470 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -21.2%, 960 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -17.8%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $327.2 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.74.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,696 members out of 1,741 rating the stock outperform, and 45 members rating it underperform. Among 304 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 296 give Clean Energy Fuels a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Clean Energy Fuels is outperform, with an average price target of $16.97.

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