Analysts were expecting Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $-0.67 for last quarter, but SNV missed expectations with actual earnings of $-1.27---60 cents below the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $-0.08 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that SNV’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare SNV's 7.60% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 7.23% for the Regional - Mid-Atlantic Banks industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect SNV to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Regional - Mid-Atlantic Banks industry, you can see how analysts believe SNV will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Wilmington Trust Corporation (WL) [Chart - News - Analysis] and City Holding Co. (CHCO) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe WL's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 8.00% while CHCO's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 7.33%.

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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Power tools and accessories maker Black & Decker Corp. (BDK) is slated to issue its second quarter score card on July 24, with analysts estimating earnings of $0.37 per share on revenues of $1.19 billion for the quarter. In mid-April, the company said it expects second-quarter earnings to range between $0.35 and $0.45 per share. For fiscal 2009, Black & Decker forecasts earnings in the range of $1.36 - $1.76 per share. Excluding the impact of the first-quarter restructuring charge of $0.14 per share, the company now expects earnings in the range of $1.50 - $1.90 per share, compared to the earlier issued forecast of $1.75 - $2.25 per share.

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Industrial products and components maker Dover Corp (DOV) will announce its second-quarter figures at 7:00 am on July 24. Wall Street analysts have a consensus earnings estimate of $0.46 per share on revenues of $1.46 billion. For fiscal 2009, Dover expects earnings per share to be in the range of $2.00 - $2.30.

Oilfield services company Schlumberger (SLB) is scheduled to report its second quarter results on July 24, with analysts expecting earnings of $0.63 per share, on revenues of $5.46 billion.

Friday's light earnings schedule includes Arch Coal Inc. (ACI), Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd. (IR), Syngenta (SYT), Telefon AB LM Ericsson (ERIC), global investment management organization T. Rowe Price (TROW) and Wilmington Trust (WL). Stay tuned to RTTNews to get a quick peek at the much-anticipated quarterly results within seconds of reporting.

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