Analysts were expecting Republic Services Inc. (RSG) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.36 for last quarter, but RSG beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.39---3 cents above the consensus estimate. RSG also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is in line with current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.48 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that RSG’s earnings are down this year.

{loadposition link_newslink1}

Also, if you compare RSG's 12.50% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 12.76% for the Waste Management industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect RSG to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Waste Management industry, you can see how analysts believe RSG will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Waste Management, Inc. (WM) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Stericycle Inc. (SRCL) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe WM's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.33% while SRCL's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 18.75%.

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

{loadposition link_nowtime}

{loadposition followus}