Analysts were expecting Compass Minerals International Inc. (CMP) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.70 for last quarter, but CMP beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.77---7 cents above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.87 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that CMP’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare CMP's 4.99% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 10.12% for the Agricultural Chemicals industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect CMP to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Agricultural Chemicals industry, you can see how analysts believe CMP will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (SMG) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Terra Industries Inc. (TRA) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe SMG's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.80% while TRA's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 9.25%.

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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Most of the charges are expected to be incurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 and the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Store closures are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The company would treat the charges as a one-time adjustment to earnings and would place Smith & Hawken into discontinued operations near the conclusion of the store closing process. The company currently expects the cash impact of the transaction to be relatively neutral as a result of proceeds from inventory liquidation and anticipated tax benefits. The impact of shutting down the Smith & Hawken business is expected to result in a benefit of about $0.15 in adjusted earnings per share beginning in fiscal 2010.

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