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Is ABM Industries (ABM) Stock Outpacing Its Business Services Peers This Year?

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The Business Services group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is ABM Industries (ABM - 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.

ABM Industries is a member of the Business Services sector. This group includes 248 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #11. 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 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. ABM Industries is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ABM's full-year earnings has moved 1.2% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the most recent data, ABM has returned 16% so far this year. In comparison, Business Services companies have returned an average of -12%. This means that ABM Industries is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another stock in the Business Services sector, Liquidity Services (LQDT - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 36.9%.

The consensus estimate for Liquidity Services' current year EPS has increased 16% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, ABM Industries belongs to the Business - Services industry, a group that includes 20 individual stocks and currently sits at #172 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have lost 17.1% this year, meaning that ABM is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

Liquidity Services, however, belongs to the Auction and Valuation Services industry. Currently, this 3-stock industry is ranked #23. The industry has moved -19.8% so far this year.

ABM Industries and Liquidity Services 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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