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Are Business Services Stocks Lagging Exponent (EXPO) 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. Exponent (EXPO - 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? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Exponent is a member of our Business Services group, which includes 246 different companies and currently sits at #8 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Exponent is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXPO's full-year earnings has moved 1.1% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Based on the most recent data, EXPO has returned 0.7% so far this year. At the same time, Business Services stocks have lost an average of 8.5%. As we can see, Exponent is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

One other Business Services stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Gen Digital (GEN - Free Report) . The stock is up 1.3% year-to-date.

In Gen Digital's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 2.3% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

To break things down more, Exponent belongs to the Consulting Services industry, a group that includes 13 individual companies and currently sits at #45 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 14.4% so far this year, so EXPO is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

On the other hand, Gen Digital belongs to the Technology Services industry. This 121-stock industry is currently ranked #150. The industry has moved -11.2% year to date.

Investors with an interest in Business Services stocks should continue to track Exponent and Gen Digital. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

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