Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Are Industrial Products Stocks Lagging Greif (GEF) This Year?

Read MoreHide Full Article

For those looking to find strong Industrial Products stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Greif (GEF - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Industrial Products peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Greif is a member of the Industrial Products sector. This group includes 230 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #5. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.

The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Greif is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GEF's full-year earnings has moved 17.4% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Our latest available data shows that GEF has returned about 3.3% since the start of the calendar year. At the same time, Industrial Products stocks have lost an average of 24.7%. This shows that Greif is outperforming its peers so far this year.

One other Industrial Products stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is IHI CORP (IHICY - Free Report) . The stock is up 34.4% year-to-date.

In IHI CORP's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 4.5% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Greif belongs to the Containers - Paper and Packaging industry, which includes 12 individual stocks and currently sits at #41 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has lost an average of 3.9% so far this year, so GEF is performing better in this area.

On the other hand, IHI CORP belongs to the Manufacturing - General Industrial industry. This 40-stock industry is currently ranked #139. The industry has moved -27% year to date.

Greif and IHI CORP could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Industrial Products stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


Greif, Inc. (GEF) - free report >>

IHI CORP (IHICY) - free report >>

Published in