| Analysts were expecting Hospitality Properties Trust (HPT) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.78 for last quarter, but HPT missed expectations with actual earnings of $0.77---1 cent below the consensus estimate. If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $1.06 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that HPT’s earnings are down this year. {loadposition link_newslink1} | {loadposition livevideopromo} | | | | | | {loadposition homeaccordion2} | | | {loadposition contentad} | | | | | | | | Also, if you compare HPT's 5.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 4.08% for the REIT - Retail industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect HPT to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock. Drilling down a little deeper into the REIT - Retail industry, you can see how analysts believe HPT will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Realty Income Corp. (O) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe FRT's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 5.26% while O's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 5.00%. 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 {loadposition link_nowtime} {loadposition followus} | 
