Gap Inc. (GPS): Today's Featured Services Winner

Gap (GPS) pushed the Services sector higher today making it today's featured services winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.8%. By the end of trading, Gap rose 50 cents (2%) to $26.06 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5.9 million shares of Gap exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 7.6 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $25.61-$26.12 after having opened the day at $25.61 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $25.56. Other companies within the Services sector that increased today were: Birks & Mayors (BMJ), up 12.4%, Fortune Industries (FFI), up 11.4%, Central European Media (CETV), up 11.3%, and Dial Global (DIAL), up 10.9%.

The Gap, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer. The company offers apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta brand names. Gap has a market cap of $12.84 billion and is part of the retail industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.1, equal to the average retail industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 37.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate Gap a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Gap as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Gap Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Grupo TMM S.A (TMM), down 20%, Grupo Casa Saba S.A.B. de C.V (SAB), down 11.9%, Cambium Learning Group (ABCD), down 10.8%, and Inuvo (INUV), down 9.7%, were all losers within the services sector with Avis Budget Group (CAR) being today's services sector loser.

• Use our services section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the services sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Services (IYC) while those bearish on the services sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Consumer Sers (SCC).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Gap Inc. click any of the following:

• Gap Inc. Stock Price

• Gap Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Gap Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Gap Inc. Earnings

• Gap Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Gap Inc. Growth Rates

• Gap Inc. Balance Sheet

• Gap Inc. Cash Flow

• Gap Inc. Income Statement