Global Hunter Securities gave the Auto Parts industry some bad news as it announced a downgrade on one of its stocks.

China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS) [Chart - News - Analysis] was downgraded from Buy » Neutral on 11/13/2009---a negative sign for the stock that investors will have to endure. FYI, Global Hunter Securities uses the following rating scale when analyzing stocks: Buy, Neutral, Sell.

{loadposition link_newslink1}

China Automotive Systems Inc. has an average analyst recommendation score of 1.7 and competes for investment dollars with TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (TRW) [Chart - News - Analysis] and CLARCOR Inc. (CLC) [Chart - News - Analysis]---two other stocks in the Auto Parts industry that have average analyst recommendation scores of 2.0 and 3.0 respectively.

Analyst recommendations are averaged and scored using the following rating scale:

- 1.0 = Strong Buy

- 2.0 = Buy

- 3.0 = Hold

- 4.0 = Sell

- 5.0 = Strong Sell

Why are Upgrades and Initiations Good and Downgrades Bad?

One event that is almost certain to get a reaction from Wall Street is an analyst upgrade or downgrade. Everyone is looking for an edge in the stock market, and quite often, traders turn to stock analysts to get that edge.

Upgrades and coverage initiations are typically good for stocks because they show that analysts either believe that the stock is going to perform better in the future or that the stock is worth covering and providing analysis on.

Downgrades are typically bad for stocks because they show that analysts believe that the stock is going to perform worse in the future.

What is a Stock Analyst?

Check out the Understanding Stock Analyst Research and Recommendations video and article for more info.

A stock analysts is a person---typically employed by a large bank, investment firm or analysis company---who devotes his/her life to learning and making predictions about a company and its future performance.

Stock analysts sift through company reports and filings, talk to company management, probe customers and competitors and basically do whatever they can to find out if a company is healthy and growing or sick and shrinking. Because this is incredibly demanding work, stock analysts typically only monitor one or two companies at a time.

{loadposition link_nowtime}

{loadposition followus}

Analysts were expecting TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (TRW) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.16 for last quarter, but TRW beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.68---52 cents above the consensus estimate. TRW also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is above current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $-0.53 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that TRW’s earnings are up this year.

{loadposition link_newslink1}

Also, if you compare TRW's 0.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 11.99% for the Auto Parts industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect TRW to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Auto Parts industry, you can see how analysts believe TRW will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Autoliv, Inc. (ALV) [Chart - News - Analysis] and CLARCOR Inc. (CLC) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe ALV's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.00% while CLC's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.50%.

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

{loadposition link_nowtime}

{loadposition followus}

Analysts were expecting Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.51 for last quarter, but JCI beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.52---1 cent above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.73 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that JCI’s earnings are down this year.

{loadposition link_newslink1}

Also, if you compare JCI's 14.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 12.23% for the Auto Parts industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect JCI to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Auto Parts industry, you can see how analysts believe JCI will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Gentex Corp. (GNTX) [Chart - News - Analysis] and CLARCOR Inc. (CLC) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe GNTX's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.00% while CLC's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.50%.

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

{loadposition link_nowtime}

{loadposition followus}