AeroVironment soars to top industrial gainer of week, while Symbotic leads decliners

The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF (XLI) rose +1.69% for the week ended Aug. 30, while the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) inched +0.28% higher.

Industrials was among the nine of the 11 S&P 500 sectors which ended the week in the green. Year-to-date, or YTD, XLI has risen +15.33%, while SPY has soared +18.59%.

The top five gainers in the industrial sector (stocks with a market cap of over $2B) all gained more than +6% each this week. YTD, all 5 of these stocks are in the green.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) +9.78%. The Arlington, Va.-based company’s share surged +9.06% on Wednesday after the drone maker announced (post market Tuesday) that it was awarded a $990M contract by the U.S. Army. YTD, +61.66%.

AVAV has a SA Quant Rating — which takes into account factors such as Momentum, Profitability, and Valuation among others — of Hold. The stock has a factor grade of D+ for Profitability and A for Growth. The average Wall Street Analysts’ rating differs and has a Strong Buy rating, wherein 4 out of 6 analysts tag the stock as such.

Hub Group (HUBG) +7.87%. Shares of the transportation and logistics services provider climbed the most on Wednesday (+4.15%). The company had declared a $0.125/share quarterly dividend post market on Tuesday. YTD, +2.52%.

The SA Quant Rating on HUBG is Hold, with a score of C for Valuation and B- for Momentum. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating agrees and has a Hold rating as well, wherein 11 out of 16 analysts see the stock as such.

The chart below shows YTD price-return performance of the top five gainers and SPY:

Cimpress (CMPR) +7.26%. The printing products’ maker stock jumped the most on Tuesday (+7.25%). YTD, +23.52%. The SA Quant Rating on CMPR is Buy, while the average Wall Street Analysts’ (2 in total) Rating is Strong Buy.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (PAC) +6.93%. The Mexican airport operator’s stock soared the most on Wednesday (+8.76%). YTD, +3.80%.

Norfolk Southern (NSC) +6.45%. The railroad company’s stock rose throughout the week. On Friday, the company announced that it reached a tentative agreement with five unions, bringing the total to nine of the railroad’s 13 unions. YTD, +8.37%. The SA Quant Rating and the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating, both, on NSC is Buy.

This week’s top five decliners among industrial stocks (market cap of over $2B) all lost more than -9% each. YTD, 2 out of these 5 stocks are in the red.

Symbotic (NASDAQ:SYM) -17.81%. Shares of the automation technology company, which serves warehouses, saw its stock dip throughout the week, with the most on Wednesday (-6.50%). YTD, -62.59%.

The SA Quant Rating on SYM is Strong Sell, with a factor grade of A+ for Growth and D+ for Profitability. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating disagrees and has a Buy rating, wherein 9 out of 16 analysts view the stock as such.

Powell Industries (POWL) -13.14%. Shares of the Houston-based company, which makes power-distribution equipment for electrical utilities, saw the impact from the decline in Super Micro Computer’s stock on Wednesday. POWL, which was the top industrial gainer last week, fell -10.02% on Wednesday. YTD, +89.41%.

The SA Quant Rating on POWL is Strong Buy, with a score of A for Momentum and B for Valuation. The average Wall Street Analysts’ (1 analyst in total in this case) Rating differs and has a Hold rating.

The chart below shows YTD price-return performance of the worst five decliners of the week and XLI:

Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) -9.91%. The shares of the space company fell the most on Tuesday (-9.20%). YTD, +13.38%. The SA Quant Rating on RKLB is Hold, while the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating is more positive, with a Buy.

Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) -9.42%. The stock went ex-dividend on Thursday, with dividend payable on Sept. 5. YTD, +85.11%. The SA Quant Rating on ZIM is Strong Buy, which is in contrast to the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating of Hold.

Atkore (ATKR) -9.17%. Shares of the Harvey, Ill.-based company — which makes electrical, mechanical, safety, and infrastructure products — fell -4.18% on Tuesday after an electrical contractor filed an antitrust lawsuit accusing the company and several other manufacturers of conspiring to overcharge municipal and commercial buyers. YTD, -41.67%. The SA Quant Rating on ATKR is Sell, while the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating disagrees and has a Buy rating.