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Are Industrial Products Stocks Lagging Eaton (ETN) This Year?

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Investors interested in Industrial Products stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Eaton (ETN - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Industrial Products sector should help us answer this question.

Eaton is a member of the Industrial Products sector. This group includes 186 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #5. 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 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. Eaton is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ETN's full-year earnings has moved 1.7% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the most recent data, ETN has returned 28.3% so far this year. In comparison, Industrial Products companies have returned an average of 16.4%. This means that Eaton is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

One other Industrial Products stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Nordson (NDSN - Free Report) . The stock is up 38.9% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Nordson's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 3%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Breaking things down more, Eaton is a member of the Manufacturing - Electronics industry, which includes 14 individual companies and currently sits at #83 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 23.7% this year, meaning that ETN is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Nordson falls under the Manufacturing - General Industrial industry. Currently, this industry has 41 stocks and is ranked #75. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +6.4%.

Investors interested in the Industrial Products sector may want to keep a close eye on Eaton and Nordson as they attempt to continue their solid performance.

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