Analysts were expecting AmSurg Corp. (AMSG) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.43 for last quarter, but AMSG beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.44---1 cent above the consensus estimate. AMSG also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is in line with current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.39 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that AMSG’s earnings are up this year.

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Also, if you compare AMSG's 11.88% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 10.41% for the Hospitals industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect AMSG to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Hospitals industry, you can see how analysts believe AMSG will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Health Management Associates Inc. (HMA) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Dynacq Healthcare Inc. (DYII) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe HMA's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.27% while DYII's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 0.00%.

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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Biotechnology company Amgen (AMGN), which also market human therapeutic products, will report second-quarter results after the market closes on July 27, with analysts expecting earnings of $1.16 per share on revenues of $3.58 billion.

For fiscal 2009, Amgen still projects adjusted earnings to range between $4.55 and $4.75 per share. However, the company slashed its revenue outlook to a range of $14.4 billion - $14.8 billion from its previous expectation of $14.8 billion - $15.2 billion. Street expects earnings of $4.57 per share on revenue of $14.33 billion for the year.

Specialty glass products maker Corning Inc. (GLW) currently expects second-quarter sequential volume to be up approximately 100% at its wholly owned business, citing much stronger than anticipated glass demand during the quarter. Corning is expected to post earnings of $0.32 per share on revenues of $1.36 billion for the second quarter. The results are scheduled to be released before the market opens.

Honeywell International Inc. (HON) is expected to make headlines before the market opens with its second-quarter report card as analysts are expecting the world's largest maker of airplane cockpit controls to report earnings of $0.60 per share on revenues of $7.73 billion. While releasing first-quarter numbers, Honeywell said it currently expects fiscal 2009 earnings to range between $2.85 and $3.20 per share, with sales in the range of $32.3 billion - $33.2 billion. Earlier, the company projected 2009 earnings between $3.20 and $3.55 per share, and sales in the range of $33.6 billion - $35.3 billion. Analysts are looking for earnings of $2.83 per share, on revenues of $32.61 billion for fiscal 2009.

Telecommunications networking products supplier Tellabs Inc. (TLAB) will layout second-quarter scorecard at 07:00 am ET, as analysts are projecting earnings of $0.06 per share on revenues of $381.34 million. The company, on April 28, said it expects second-quarter revenue to be flat to up by a high-single-digit percentage. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be flat, plus or minus a point or two, as a result of product mix.

ACE Limited (ACE), Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (ANR), Cott Corp. (COT), Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF), Foundation Coal Holdings Inc. (FCL), Health Management Associates Inc. (HMA), W.R. Berkley (WRB), CF Industries (CF), Lorillard Inc. (LO), and Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) are among the major companies to release quarterly results today.

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