Analysts were expecting Waste Connections Inc. (WCN) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.41 for last quarter, but WCN beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.43---2 cents above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.41 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that WCN’s earnings are up this year.

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Also, if you compare WCN's 15.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 12.74% for the Waste Management industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect WCN to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Waste Management industry, you can see how analysts believe WCN will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Waste Management, Inc. (WM) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Republic Services Inc. (RSG) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe WM's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.33% while RSG's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 12.50%.

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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