Analysts were expecting Frontier Oil Corp. (FTO) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $-0.15 for last quarter, but FTO missed expectations with actual earnings of $-0.26---11 cents below the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.83 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that FTO’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare FTO's 6.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 6.34% for the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect FTO to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing industry, you can see how analysts believe FTO will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Hess Corporation (HES) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. (EPE) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe HES's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 7.25% while EPE's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.00%.

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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For fiscal year 2009, Williams Companies lowered its forecast for consolidated segment profit to a range of $1.325 billion - $1.850 billion from the prior range of $1.350 billion - $1.925 billion. The company also lowered its outlook for earnings per share for the year to a range of $0.55 - $0.95 from prior range of $0.60 - $1.10. Analysts expect the company to report earnings of $0.83 per share for the full year.

Investors will hear second-quarter earnings from the cable services provider Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) before the market opens, as analysts are forecasting earnings of $0.26 per share on revenues of $8.86 billion. Comcast's arch rival, DirectTV Group Inc. (DTV) will also air its second-quarter results before the market opens Thursday, with analysts expecting earnings of $0.43 per share, on revenues of $5.18 billion.

Oil and gas producer El Paso Corp. (EP) will publish second-quarter financial results Thursday, with analysts projecting earnings of $0.21 per share on revenues of $1.14 billion.

MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) said it continues to expect net subscriber additions in the range of 1.4 million - 1.7 million, on a consolidated basis, for fiscal 2009. Full-year capital expenditures are estimated to range between $0.7 billion and $0.9 billion. The wireless telecommunications carrier will announce second-quarter figures before the market opens Thursday, with analysts forecasting earnings of $0.14 per share, on revenues of $861.20 million.

VeriSign Inc. (VRSN), Unilever Plc (UL), NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. (NDAQ), Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI), Frontier Oil (FTO), Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), Huntsman Corp. (HUN), Deutsche Telekom (DT), Dollar Tree Stores (DLTR), Brinker International (EAT) are among the titans to release quarterly upshots Thursday.

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Tuesday

Higher-ups in the market set to publicize quarterly results Tuesday include electric utility Allegheny Energy Inc. (AYE), biopharmaceutical company Cephalon Inc. (CEPH), integrated energy company Progress Energy (PGN), system management solutions provider BMC Software (BMC), telecom services provider Frontier Communications Corp. (FTR), and integrated energy company Entergy (ETR).

Wednesday

Wednesday's earnings docket includes oil and gas equipment and services provider Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI), food and beverage company Dean Foods (DF), oil and gas producer Devon Energy Corp. (DVN), financial services provider Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU), oil refiner and petrochemical products company Sunoco (SUN), personal lines insurer Allstate Corp. (ALL), domestic oil and natural gas producer XTO Energy Inc. (XTO), Foster Wheeler AG (FWLT), Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC), Petrohawk Energy Corp. (HK) among numerous others slated to issue quarterly figures.

Thursday

VeriSign Inc. (VRSN), Unilever Plc (UL), NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. (NDAQ), Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI), Frontier Oil (FTO), Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), Huntsman Corp. (HUN), Deutsche Telekom (DT), Dollar Tree Stores (DLTR), Brinker International (EAT) are among the titans to release quarterly upshots Thursday.

Friday

Friday's earnings array encompass Liberty Media Corp. (LINTA), asset management holding company Brookfield Asset Management (BAM), oil and gas exploration and production company Cimarex Energy Co. (XEC), auto parts maker Magna International Inc. (MGA), and residential mortgage insurance provider PMI Group Inc. (PMI).

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