Analysts were expecting AmeriCredit Corp. (ACF) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.06 for last quarter, but ACF beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.19---13 cents above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $-0.01 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that ACF’s earnings are up this year.

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Also, if you compare ACF's 12.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 11.71% for the Credit Services industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect ACF to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Credit Services industry, you can see how analysts believe ACF will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like American Express Company (AXP) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Capital One Financial Corp. (COF) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe AXP's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.50% while COF's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.25%.

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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