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Is AtriCure (ATRC) Outperforming Other Medical Stocks This Year?

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For those looking to find strong Medical stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Has AtriCure (ATRC - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

AtriCure is one of 912 individual stocks in the Medical sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #7 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 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. AtriCure is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATRC's full-year earnings has moved 123.1% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, ATRC has gained about 21.8% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Medical sector has returned an average of 5.9% on a year-to-date basis. This means that AtriCure is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another stock in the Medical sector, Aveanna Healthcare (AVAH - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 66.7%.

Over the past three months, Aveanna Healthcare's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 25%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

To break things down more, AtriCure belongs to the Medical - Products industry, a group that includes 84 individual companies and currently sits at #92 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has lost an average of 14.9% so far this year, meaning that ATRC is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Aveanna Healthcare falls under the Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry. Currently, this industry has 14 stocks and is ranked #52. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +24.9%.

Investors with an interest in Medical stocks should continue to track AtriCure and Aveanna Healthcare. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

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