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The business services sector includes companies that provide ancillary services to other industries in the market. Companies from this sector help other firms focus on their core competencies, helping them benefit from operating efficiencies. Many of these functions fall within otherwise ancillary areas for most companies -- for example, payroll processing, staffing, marketing/advertising and information technology, to name some of the major areas.
The outlook for these businesses moves in-line with the broader economy, with the business-friendly orientation of the current administration widely expected to give the U.S. economy a growth nudge.
Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), gross domestic product is estimated to increase in the upcoming quarters, too. GDP growth is now expected to accelerate 2.1% in 2017 and 2.6% in 2018. This favorable outlook for the U.S. economy is a net positive for the business service sector as well. No doubt, the sector has been a strong performer this year, with the Zacks Business Services sector up +10.9% in the year-to-date period, roughly in-line with the S&P 500 index’s +11.4% gain.
The intensely competitive business services sector must diligently work toward controlling costs and generating higher revenues in order to maintain profitability. Focus on functions and activities in line with core competence is a prerequisite in reaping the benefits of economies of scale, as well as improving competitive positioning.
Economic sensitivity aside, business service companies are quite conservatively managed, with a large number of players sharing excess cash with investors through dividends and share buybacks. Another attribute of the sector is its highly fragmented nature, with no single service provider enjoying market dominance. Per business reports, the top 50 companies of the sector contribute less than 25% to the sector’s total revenue.
Stand-Alone Zacks Sector: Favorable
Given the group’s unique nature, Zacks has classified it as one of the 16 sectors (the S&P’s official GIC classification has only 11 sectors where business services are grouped within the ‘Industrials’ sector). Notably, with about 3.4% of total market capitalization, the sector generated 2.8% the total S&P 500 income in 2016.
This industry offers an array of services that include marketing, consulting, staffing, security, telecommunications, Internet services, logistics and waste handling. In its expanded sense, the U.S. business services sector generates consolidated yearly revenues of about $620 billion, though many of these companies do not strictly fall within the generally accepted definition of the industry.
Within the Zacks Industry classification, we have divided the business world into 16 sectors comprising 60 industries at the medium (M-level) and 265 industries at the expanded (X-level). We rank all 265 X-level industries in the 16 sectors based on the earnings outlook of the constituent companies in each industry. This ranking is available in the Zacks Industry Rank page.
We rank the 265 sub-industries in the 16 Zacks sectors based on earnings outlook and fundamental strength of the constituent companies in each industry. We put our industries into two groups — the top half (industries with the best average Zacks Rank) and the bottom half (the industries with the worst average Zacks Rank). Over the last 10 years, using a one-week rebalance, the top half beat the bottom half by a factor of more than two to one. To learn more visit: About Zacks Industry Rank.)
Please note that the Zacks Rank for stocks – the core of our Industry Rank – has an impressive track record, verified by outside auditors, to foretell stock prices, in particular over the short term (one to three months). We have eight X-level industries within the Business Services sector, namely Auction/Valuation Services, Business Information Services, Business Services, Consulting, Financial Transaction Services, Outsourcing, Staffing and Waste Removal Services.
Outsourcing at #32, Business Information Services at #36, Financial Transaction Services at #51 and Consulting at #71 fall in the top half.
Waste Removal at #175, Business Services at #181, Staffing at #194 and Auction/Valuation Services at #231 are industries that fall in the bottom half.
Our top picks from the Outsourcing industries are Atento S.A. (NYSE: – Free Report) and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:(BR - Free Report) – Free Report), both carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
FactSet Research Systems Inc.(NYSE:(FDS - Free Report) – Free Report), carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is one of our favorites from Business Information Services.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: Atento S.A., Broadridge Financial Solutions, Bureau Veritas SA, CBIZ and FactSet Research Systems
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 28, 2017 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Industry: Business Services, Part 1, including Atento S.A. (NYSE: – Free Report), Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:(BR - Free Report) – Free Report), Bureau Veritas SA (OTCMKTS:(BVRDF - Free Report) – Free Report), CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:(CBZ - Free Report) – Free Report) and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:(FDS - Free Report) – Free Report).
Industry: Business Services, Part 1
Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/130061/business-services-industry-stock-outlook---september-2017
The business services sector includes companies that provide ancillary services to other industries in the market. Companies from this sector help other firms focus on their core competencies, helping them benefit from operating efficiencies. Many of these functions fall within otherwise ancillary areas for most companies -- for example, payroll processing, staffing, marketing/advertising and information technology, to name some of the major areas.
The outlook for these businesses moves in-line with the broader economy, with the business-friendly orientation of the current administration widely expected to give the U.S. economy a growth nudge.
Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), gross domestic product is estimated to increase in the upcoming quarters, too. GDP growth is now expected to accelerate 2.1% in 2017 and 2.6% in 2018. This favorable outlook for the U.S. economy is a net positive for the business service sector as well. No doubt, the sector has been a strong performer this year, with the Zacks Business Services sector up +10.9% in the year-to-date period, roughly in-line with the S&P 500 index’s +11.4% gain.
The intensely competitive business services sector must diligently work toward controlling costs and generating higher revenues in order to maintain profitability. Focus on functions and activities in line with core competence is a prerequisite in reaping the benefits of economies of scale, as well as improving competitive positioning.
Economic sensitivity aside, business service companies are quite conservatively managed, with a large number of players sharing excess cash with investors through dividends and share buybacks. Another attribute of the sector is its highly fragmented nature, with no single service provider enjoying market dominance. Per business reports, the top 50 companies of the sector contribute less than 25% to the sector’s total revenue.
Stand-Alone Zacks Sector: Favorable
Given the group’s unique nature, Zacks has classified it as one of the 16 sectors (the S&P’s official GIC classification has only 11 sectors where business services are grouped within the ‘Industrials’ sector). Notably, with about 3.4% of total market capitalization, the sector generated 2.8% the total S&P 500 income in 2016.
This industry offers an array of services that include marketing, consulting, staffing, security, telecommunications, Internet services, logistics and waste handling. In its expanded sense, the U.S. business services sector generates consolidated yearly revenues of about $620 billion, though many of these companies do not strictly fall within the generally accepted definition of the industry.
Within the Zacks Industry classification, we have divided the business world into 16 sectors comprising 60 industries at the medium (M-level) and 265 industries at the expanded (X-level). We rank all 265 X-level industries in the 16 sectors based on the earnings outlook of the constituent companies in each industry. This ranking is available in the Zacks Industry Rank page.
We rank the 265 sub-industries in the 16 Zacks sectors based on earnings outlook and fundamental strength of the constituent companies in each industry. We put our industries into two groups — the top half (industries with the best average Zacks Rank) and the bottom half (the industries with the worst average Zacks Rank). Over the last 10 years, using a one-week rebalance, the top half beat the bottom half by a factor of more than two to one. To learn more visit: About Zacks Industry Rank.)
Please note that the Zacks Rank for stocks – the core of our Industry Rank – has an impressive track record, verified by outside auditors, to foretell stock prices, in particular over the short term (one to three months). We have eight X-level industries within the Business Services sector, namely Auction/Valuation Services, Business Information Services, Business Services, Consulting, Financial Transaction Services, Outsourcing, Staffing and Waste Removal Services.
Outsourcing at #32, Business Information Services at #36, Financial Transaction Services at #51 and Consulting at #71 fall in the top half.
Waste Removal at #175, Business Services at #181, Staffing at #194 and Auction/Valuation Services at #231 are industries that fall in the bottom half.
Our top picks from the Outsourcing industries are Atento S.A. (NYSE: – Free Report) and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:(BR - Free Report) – Free Report), both carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Bureau Veritas SA(OTCMKTS:(BVRDF - Free Report) – Free Report) and CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE:(CBZ - Free Report) – Free Report), carrying a Zacks Rank #1 are our top picks from the Consulting industry.
FactSet Research Systems Inc.(NYSE:(FDS - Free Report) – Free Report), carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is one of our favorites from Business Information Services.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year.See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.