5 Stocks Pushing The Services Sector Higher

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

Two out of the three major indices are trading lower today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) trading up 15 points (0.1%) at 12,980 as of Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, 11:49 AM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,319 issues advancing vs. 1,553 declining with 162 unchanged.

The Services sector currently sits down 0.2% versus the S&P 500, which is down 0.1%. Top gainers within the sector include United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) Class B (UPS), up 0.8%, and FedEx Corporation (FDX), up 0.7%. On the negative front, top decliners within the sector include Net 1 Ueps Technologies (UEPS), down 56.6%, Vail Resorts (MTN), down 10.2%, Darden Restaurants (DRI), down 9.6%, Melco Crown Entertainment (MPEL), down 6.8% and Gap (GPS), down 6.9%.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector higher today:

5. Luxottica Group (LUX) is one of the companies pushing the Services sector higher today. As of noon trading, Luxottica Group is up $0.23 (0.6%) to $41.34 on light volume Thus far, 44,115 shares of Luxottica Group exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 135,400 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $41.29-$41.45 after having opened the day at $41.37 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $41.11.

Luxottica Group S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides fashion, luxury, and sports eyewear worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution, and Retail Distribution. Luxottica Group has a market cap of $19.3 billion and is part of the specialty retail industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 41.9, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 46.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there is 1 analyst that rates Luxottica Group a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Luxottica Group as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth, increase in net income, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. Get the full Luxottica Group Ratings Report now.

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