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Is ASML Holding (ASML) Stock Outpacing Its Computer and Technology Peers This Year?

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The Computer and Technology group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. ASML (ASML - 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 Computer and Technology sector should help us answer this question.

ASML is one of 604 companies in the Computer and Technology group. The Computer and Technology group currently sits at #3 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. ASML is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASML's full-year earnings has moved 3.4% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Based on the latest available data, ASML has gained about 52.8% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Computer and Technology sector has returned an average of 29.6% on a year-to-date basis. As we can see, ASML is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

One other Computer and Technology stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Ciena (CIEN - Free Report) . The stock is up 123.9% year-to-date.

In Ciena's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 18.6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Breaking things down more, ASML is a member of the Semiconductor Equipment - Wafer Fabrication industry, which includes 2 individual companies and currently sits at #3 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 53.2% this year, meaning that ASML is slightly underperforming its industry in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Ciena falls under the Communication - Components industry. Currently, this industry has 11 stocks and is ranked #21. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +89.5%.

Investors interested in the Computer and Technology sector may want to keep a close eye on ASML and Ciena as they attempt to continue their solid performance.


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