The Auto-Tires-Trucks group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Mazda Motor Corporation (MZDAY) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Auto-Tires-Trucks peers, we might be able to answer that question.
Mazda Motor Corporation is one of 103 individual stocks in the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #11 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. Mazda Motor Corporation is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MZDAY's full-year earnings has moved 66.7% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
According to our latest data, MZDAY has moved about 8.8% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector has returned an average of -4.6% on a year-to-date basis. This means that Mazda Motor Corporation is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Another stock in the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector, Westport Innovations (WPRT), has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 26.8%.
Over the past three months, Westport Innovations' consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0.4%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, Mazda Motor Corporation is a member of the Automotive - Foreign industry, which includes 23 individual companies and currently sits at #63 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 6.2% so far this year, so MZDAY is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.
In contrast, Westport Innovations falls under the Automotive - Original Equipment industry. Currently, this industry has 54 stocks and is ranked #143. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +5.4%.
Going forward, investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should continue to pay close attention to Mazda Motor Corporation and Westport Innovations as they could maintain their solid performance.
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Mazda Motor Corporation (MZDAY): Free Stock Analysis Report Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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