Analysts were expecting Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MPEL) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $-0.09 for last quarter, but MPEL beat expectations with actual earnings of $-0.08---1 cent above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $-0.05 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that MPEL’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare MPEL's 66.10% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 24.23% for the Resorts & Casinos industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect MPEL to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Resorts & Casinos industry, you can see how analysts believe MPEL will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (ISLE) [Chart - News - Analysis] and MGM Mirage (MGM) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe ISLE's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.00% while MGM's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 18.00%.

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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