Are Computer and Technology Stocks Lagging Applied Materials (AMAT) This Year?

Investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Has Applied Materials (AMAT) been one of those stocks this year? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Computer and Technology sector should help us answer this question.Applied Materials is one of 594 companies in the Computer and Technology group. The Computer and Technology group currently sits at #2 within 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. Applied Materials is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMAT's full-year earnings has moved 8.2% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.Based on the most recent data, AMAT has returned 66.1% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Computer and Technology group have gained about 16.6% on average. This shows that Applied Materials is outperforming its peers so far this year.One other Computer and Technology stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Chegg (CHGG). The stock is up 31.2% year-to-date.Over the past three months, Chegg's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 29%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).Looking more specifically, Applied Materials belongs to the Electronics - Semiconductors industry, a group that includes 47 individual stocks and currently sits at #53 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 40.6% so far this year, so AMAT is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns. Chegg, however, belongs to the Internet - Software industry. Currently, this 170-stock industry is ranked #74. The industry has moved -13.2% so far this year.Investors with an interest in Computer and Technology stocks should continue to track Applied Materials and Chegg. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks