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Are Business Services Stocks Lagging Charles River Associates (CRAI) 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. Is CRA International (CRAI - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

CRA International is one of 259 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 emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. CRA International is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRAI's full-year earnings has moved 2.3% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

According to our latest data, CRAI has moved about 0.3% on a year-to-date basis. In comparison, Business Services companies have returned an average of -9.7%. As we can see, CRA International is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Another Business Services stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Digi Power X Inc. (DGXX - Free Report) . The stock has returned 152% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Digi Power X Inc.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 12.7%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, CRA International belongs to the Consulting Services industry, which includes 13 individual stocks and currently sits at #46 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 29.1% so far this year, so CRAI is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

Digi Power X Inc., however, belongs to the Technology Services industry. Currently, this 124-stock industry is ranked #87. The industry has moved +19.9% so far this year.

CRA International and Digi Power X Inc. 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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