Analysts were expecting Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc. (FCS) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.07 for last quarter, but FCS beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.12---5 cents above the consensus estimate. FCS also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is above current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.27 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that FCS’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare FCS's 14.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 14.95% for the Semiconductor - Integrated Circuits industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect FCS to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Semiconductor - Integrated Circuits industry, you can see how analysts believe FCS will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe TSM's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.50% while BRCM's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 16.11%.

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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