Analysts were expecting Torchmark Corp. (TMK) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $1.49 for last quarter, but TMK missed expectations with actual earnings of $1.48---1 cent below the consensus estimate. TMK also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is in line with current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $1.51 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that TMK’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare TMK's 8.50% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 17.30% for the Life Insurance industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect TMK to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Life Insurance industry, you can see how analysts believe TMK will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) [Chart - News - Analysis] and China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (LFC) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe MFC's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 10.00% while LFC's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 25.04%.

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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