Metrics & Models for Automobile & Industrial Supply Industries

Hello chimps, humans, and everyone in-between,

I'll give you a quick synopsis of my situation, why I'm looking for what I'm looking for, and what it is I'm looking for from the community.

I work for a banking regulator and am aiming to take CFA level one in December '16 or June '17, helping me get on track for an ER or portfolio/Asset Management career. I plan to remain with the regulator for 3 - 5 years.

I want to familiarize myself with industry research and model/techniques used by professionals in the field. I believe a good way to do this is practicing on industries I am interested in and am familiar with. One industry I am interested in is automobiles. While I am not a car whiz I believe I know more than your average guy walking down the street. An industry I am familiar with is industrial supply since I worked part time at a supplier for 3 years during undergrad. Three years doesn't make me an expert, but I know basics about the industry.

My primary questions are:

1. What metrics do analysts look at when gauging earnings of these industries?
For example (briefly): banks: net interest margin, retail: same store sales, etc.

2. What models are publicly available for analyzing such industries?
I will search online for models, but if one of you can point me in the right direction or share a model they believe is valid it would be very useful.

Thanks,

- LC