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Is HNI (HNI) Stock Outpacing Its Business Services Peers This Year?

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Investors interested in Business Services stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. HNI (HNI - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Business Services sector should help us answer this question.

HNI is one of 315 individual stocks in the Business Services sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #5 in the Zacks Sector Rank. 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. HNI is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HNI's full-year earnings has moved 12.7% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Our latest available data shows that HNI has returned about 5.9% since the start of the calendar year. In comparison, Business Services companies have returned an average of 5.7%. This means that HNI is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another stock in the Business Services sector, Exponent (EXPO - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 7.3%.

The consensus estimate for Exponent's current year EPS has increased 9.1% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Breaking things down more, HNI is a member of the Business - Office Products industry, which includes 3 individual companies and currently sits at #2 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 1% so far this year, so HNI is performing better in this area.

On the other hand, Exponent belongs to the Consulting Services industry. This 14-stock industry is currently ranked #61. The industry has moved -8.5% year to date.

HNI and Exponent could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Business Services stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.


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