Analysts were expecting Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. (PSYS) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.56 for last quarter, but PSYS missed expectations with actual earnings of $0.50---6 cents below the consensus estimate. PSYS also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is below current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.51 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that PSYS’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare PSYS's 17.43% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 12.93% for the Specialized Health Services industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect PSYS to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Specialized Health Services industry, you can see how analysts believe PSYS will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like BioScrip Inc. (BIOS) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Healthways Inc. (HWAY) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe BIOS's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 21.67% while HWAY's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.67%.

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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