Analysts were expecting Gulfport Energy Corp. (GPOR) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.15 for last quarter, but GPOR beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.16---1 cent above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.33 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that GPOR’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare GPOR's 0.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 7.00% for the Independent Oil & Gas industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect GPOR to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Independent Oil & Gas industry, you can see how analysts believe GPOR will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe CNQ's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 5.00% while APC's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 6.00%.

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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