Analysts were expecting Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.29 for last quarter, but SU missed expectations with actual earnings of $0.23---6 cents below the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $1.04 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that SU’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare SU's 7.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 6.99% for the Independent Oil & Gas industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect SU to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Independent Oil & Gas industry, you can see how analysts believe SU will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like EnCana Corp. (ECA) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe ECA's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.00% while OXY's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 6.67%.

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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