The Medical group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Boston Scientific (BSX) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Medical sector should help us answer this question.
Boston Scientific is one of 974 individual stocks in the Medical sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #7 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. Boston Scientific is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BSX's full-year earnings has moved 2.1% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.
Based on the most recent data, BSX has returned 15% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Medical sector has returned an average of -1.8% on a year-to-date basis. This means that Boston Scientific is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.
One other Medical stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (AKRO). The stock is up 56.2% year-to-date.
Over the past three months, Akero Therapeutics, Inc.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 2.7%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, Boston Scientific is a member of the Medical - Products industry, which includes 84 individual companies and currently sits at #94 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 6.7% this year, meaning that BSX is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
Akero Therapeutics, Inc., however, belongs to the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry. Currently, this 485-stock industry is ranked #95. The industry has moved +3.6% so far this year.
Investors with an interest in Medical stocks should continue to track Boston Scientific and Akero Therapeutics, Inc.. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
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Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX): Free Stock Analysis Report Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (AKRO): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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