Plug Power soars to top industrial gainer of week, earnings drag down C.H. Robinson

The Industrial Select Sector (XLI) rose +1.90% for the week ending Feb. 2, while the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) climbed +1.42%.

The top five gainers in the industrial sector (stocks with a market cap of over $2B) all gained more than +14% each this week.

Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) +37.06%. The Latham, N.Y.-based company’s shares surged the most on Wednesday (+19.30%) after Roth MKM upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral citing confidence that the ramp-up of the company’s Georgia green hydrogen plant is going smoothly.

Plug has a SA Quant Rating — which takes into account factors such as Momentum, Profitability, and Valuation among others — of Strong Sell. The stock has a factor grade of F for Profitability and C+ for Growth. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating disagrees and has Buy rating, wherein 9 out of 29 analysts tag the stock as Strong Buy.

Symbotic (SYM) +23.05%. Shares of the company, which provides warehouse automation systems, shot up the most on Thursday +8.81%. In the past one year the stock has surged about 230%. The SA Quant Rating on SYM is Sell with score of B- for Momentum and C for Valuation. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating has a more positive view with a Buy rating, wherein 9 out of 15 analysts see the stock as Strong Buy.

The chart below shows 6-month price-return performance of the top five gainers and SPY:

Saia (SAIA) +18.74%. The trucking company’s shares jumped +14.35% on Friday after fourth quarter results beat estimates. The SA Quant Rating on SAIA is Hold with score of B for Profitability and D for Valuation. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating differs and has Buy rating, wherein 21 out of 21 analysts view the stock as Strong Buy.

McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) +15.69%. WillScot Mobile Mini (WSC) said on Monday that it was acquiring McGrath in a cash-and-stock deal worth $3.8B which sent the McGrath’s shares surging +10.74% on the day. The SA Quant Rating and the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating, both, for MGRC is Strong Buy.

Vertiv (VRT) +14.98%. The company — which provides products and services for data centers and communication networks — saw its shares climb throughout the week, barring Wednesday. The SA Quant Rating on VRT is Hold, while the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating is Strong Buy.

This week’s top five decliners among industrial stocks (market cap of over $2B) all lost more than -7% each.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (NASDAQ:CHRW) -15.17%. The trucking services provider’s stock fell -12.59% on Thursday after fourth quarter adjusted earnings missed estimates by a wide margin. The SA Quant Rating on CHRW is Hold with a factor grade of B- for Profitability and D for Momentum. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating agrees and has a Hold rating too, wherein 17 out of 26 analysts view the stock as Hold.

Exponent (EXPO) -11.55%. The engineering consulting company saw its shares tumble -12.83% on Friday after its mixed fourth quarter results on Thursday (post market). The SA Quant Rating on EXPO is Sell with score of D+ for Growth and B for Momentum. The average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating differs and has a Buy rating, wherein 1 out of the 3 analysts tags the stock as Strong Buy.

The chart below shows 6-month price-return performance of the worst five decliners and XLI:

Rockwell Automation (ROK) -11.55%. Shares of the industrial-technology company fell -17.56% on Wednesday after first-quarter results showed the negative effects of supply-chain constraints and high inventories at customers. The SA Quant Rating on ROK is Hold with a factor grade of B for Profitability and A for Growth. The rating is in contrast to the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating of Buy rating, wherein 9 out of 26 analysts view the stock as Strong Buy.

United Parcel Service (UPS) -10.95%. The stock fell -8.20% on Tuesday after the company posted a mixed Q4 earnings report and set full-year guidance below expectations. The SA Quant Rating on UPS is Hold which differs from the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating of Buy.

Avis Budget (CAR) -7.21%. The shares of the car rental company dipped the most on Wednesday -4.26%. The SA Quant Rating on CAR is Hold, while the average Wall Street Analysts’ Rating is Buy.