Investors interested in Transportation stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Has Southwest Airlines (LUV) been one of those stocks this year? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
Southwest Airlines is one of 115 individual stocks in the Transportation sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #9 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 system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Southwest Airlines is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LUV's full-year earnings has moved 25.3% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
Based on the latest available data, LUV has gained about 17.4% so far this year. At the same time, Transportation stocks have gained an average of 6.1%. This means that Southwest Airlines is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.
One other Transportation stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB). The stock is up 9% year-to-date.
The consensus estimate for Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies' current year EPS has increased 1.1% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, Southwest Airlines is a member of the Transportation - Airline industry, which includes 24 individual companies and currently sits at #43 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 18.3% so far this year, so LUV is slightly underperforming its industry this group in terms of year-to-date returns.
In contrast, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies falls under the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry. Currently, this industry has 10 stocks and is ranked #24. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +18.8%.
Investors with an interest in Transportation stocks should continue to track Southwest Airlines and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
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Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV): Free Stock Analysis Report Wabtec (WAB): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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