Analysts were expecting ION Geophysical Corporation (IO) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $-0.03 for last quarter, but IO missed expectations with actual earnings of $-0.06---3 cents below the consensus estimate.

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 IO’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare IO's 0.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 13.38% for the Scientific & Technical Instruments industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect IO to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Scientific & Technical Instruments industry, you can see how analysts believe IO will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Garmin Ltd. (GRMN) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Agilent Technologies Inc. (A) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe GRMN's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.75% while A's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 11.50%.

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

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