ZACKS·2026-03-31 14:41Group 1 - Smithfield Foods, Inc. has gained about 21.3% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the average gain of 2.7% in the Consumer Staples sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Smithfield's full-year earnings has increased by 11.8% over the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [4] - Smithfield Foods, Inc. currently holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a favorable investment outlook [3] Group 2 - Smithfield Foods, Inc. is part of the Food - Meat Products industry, which has an average gain of 5.4% this year, indicating that Smithfield is performing better than its industry peers [6] - The Zacks Sector Rank places the Consumer Staples sector at 15, reflecting the overall strength of the sector [2] - Another stock in the Consumer Staples sector, John Wiley & Sons, has a year-to-date return of 23.9% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong performance within the sector [5]