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Has Atmos Energy (ATO) Outpaced Other Utilities Stocks This Year?

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For those looking to find strong Utilities stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Atmos Energy (ATO - 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.

Atmos Energy is one of 110 companies in the Utilities group. The Utilities group currently sits at #2 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. Atmos Energy is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATO's full-year earnings has moved 2.8% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, ATO has gained about 12.7% so far this year. At the same time, Utilities stocks have gained an average of 10.3%. This means that Atmos Energy is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another Utilities stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is ENGIE - Sponsored ADR (ENGIY - Free Report) . The stock has returned 27.9% year-to-date.

The consensus estimate for ENGIE - Sponsored ADR's current year EPS has increased 6.5% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Atmos Energy belongs to the Utility - Gas Distribution industry, a group that includes 13 individual stocks and currently sits at #84 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 9.4% this year, meaning that ATO is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, ENGIE - Sponsored ADR falls under the Utility - Electric Power industry. Currently, this industry has 60 stocks and is ranked #63. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +11.3%.

Investors with an interest in Utilities stocks should continue to track Atmos Energy and ENGIE - Sponsored ADR. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

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