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Is Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) Stock Outpacing Its Industrial Products Peers 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 Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT - 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.

Applied Industrial Technologies is one of 189 individual stocks in the Industrial Products sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #6 in the Zacks Sector Rank. 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 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. Applied Industrial Technologies is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AIT's full-year earnings has moved 1.8% higher within the past quarter. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

According to our latest data, AIT has moved about 32.2% on a year-to-date basis. In comparison, Industrial Products companies have returned an average of 14.6%. This shows that Applied Industrial Technologies is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Another Industrial Products stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Helios Technologies (HLIO - Free Report) . The stock has returned 28.8% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Helios Technologies' consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 10.1%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Applied Industrial Technologies belongs to the Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, which includes 43 individual stocks and currently sits at #81 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 1.2% this year, meaning that AIT is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Helios Technologies is also part of the same industry.

Applied Industrial Technologies and Helios Technologies could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Industrial Products stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

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