Analysts were expecting Cabot Corp. (CBT) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.13 for last quarter, but CBT beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.30---17 cents above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.20 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that CBT’s earnings are up this year.

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Also, if you compare CBT's 15.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 10.91% for the Specialty Chemicals industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect CBT to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Specialty Chemicals industry, you can see how analysts believe CBT will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Methanex Corporation (MEOH) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (SIAL) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe MEOH's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 25.50% while SIAL's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 9.06%.

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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