The Retail-Wholesale group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Retail-Wholesale peers, we might be able to answer that question.
Abercrombie & Fitch is one of 187 individual stocks in the Retail-Wholesale sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #4 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 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. Abercrombie & Fitch is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANF's full-year earnings has moved 6.5% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.
Based on the latest available data, ANF has gained about 17.4% so far this year. In comparison, Retail-Wholesale companies have returned an average of 2.4%. This means that Abercrombie & Fitch is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Another stock in the Retail-Wholesale sector, ASOS PLS (ASOMY), has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 46.7%.
Over the past three months, ASOS PLS' consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 2.9%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking more specifically, Abercrombie & Fitch belongs to the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, a group that includes 38 individual stocks and currently sits at #88 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 10.6% so far this year, so ANF is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns. ASOS PLS is also part of the same industry.
Abercrombie & Fitch and ASOS PLS could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Retail-Wholesale stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF): Free Stock Analysis Report
ASOS PLS (ASOMY): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).