Analysts were expecting General Cable Corp. (BGC) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.53 for last quarter, but BGC beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.55---2 cents above the consensus estimate. BGC also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is in line with current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $1.16 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that BGC’s earnings are down this year.

{loadposition link_newslink1}

Also, if you compare BGC's 10.25% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 2.91% for the Industrial Electrical Equipment industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect BGC to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Industrial Electrical Equipment industry, you can see how analysts believe BGC will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Eaton Corporation (ETN) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Nidec Corp. (NJ) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe ETN's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.00% while NJ's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 28.81%.

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}