Analysts were expecting Comerica Incorporated (CMA) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $-0.53 for last quarter, but CMA beat expectations with actual earnings of $-0.10---43 cents above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.18 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that CMA’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare CMA's 4.62% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 8.65% for the Regional - Midwest Banks industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect CMA to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Regional - Midwest Banks industry, you can see how analysts believe CMA will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like US Bancorp (USB) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe USB's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 9.38% while NTRS's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.43%.

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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