Are Computer and Technology Stocks Lagging Itron (ITRI) This Year?

The Computer and Technology group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Itron (ITRI) 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 Computer and Technology peers, we might be able to answer that question.Itron is a member of the Computer and Technology sector. This group includes 605 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #1. 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 successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Itron is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ITRI's full-year earnings has moved 11.5% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.Our latest available data shows that ITRI has returned about 23.6% since the start of the calendar year. At the same time, Computer and Technology stocks have gained an average of 22.9%. This means that Itron is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.Another Computer and Technology stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is KT Corp. (KT). The stock has returned 23.8% year-to-date.Over the past three months, KT Corp.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 5.3%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).Looking more specifically, Itron belongs to the Electronics - Testing Equipment industry, which includes 4 individual stocks and currently sits at #21 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has lost an average of 6% so far this year, so ITRI is performing better in this area. In contrast, KT Corp. falls under the Wireless Non-US industry. Currently, this industry has 15 stocks and is ranked #36. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +41.4%.Investors interested in the Computer and Technology sector may want to keep a close eye on Itron and KT Corp. as they attempt to continue their solid performance.5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>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 Itron, Inc. (ITRI): Free Stock Analysis Report KT Corporation (KT): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks