Analysts were expecting Spectra Energy Partners, LP (SEP) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.43 for last quarter, but SEP beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.48---5 cents above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.34 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that SEP’s earnings are up this year.

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Also, if you compare SEP's 6.50% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 7.22% for the Oil & Gas Pipelines industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect SEP to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Oil & Gas Pipelines industry, you can see how analysts believe SEP will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like El Paso Corp. (EP) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Spectra Energy Corp. (SE) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe EP's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 6.00% while SE's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 7.50%.

Earnings season can be a volatile time in the stock market. Check out these videos and articles to be better prepared to take advantage of the large price moves that tend to accompany earnings announcements.

- Earnings Season is Here - Find Out How to Trade It

- Using Options to Trade Earnings

- Understanding Stock Analyst Research and Recommendations

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