Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS): Today's Featured Financial Services Winner

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

Goldman Sachs Group ( GS) pushed the Financial Services industry higher today making it today's featured financial services winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.6%. By the end of trading, Goldman Sachs Group rose $1.97 (1.2%) to $169.75 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 14,589,746 shares of Goldman Sachs Group exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2,741,300 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $164.03-$169.75 after having opened the day at $168.00 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $167.78. Other companies within the Financial Services industry that increased today were: Xoom ( XOOM), up 5.0%, Pzena Investment Management ( PZN), up 4.8%, MarketAxess Holdings ( MKTX), up 3.7% and ViewPoint Financial Group ( VPFG), up 3.7%.

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services, as well as financial services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Goldman Sachs Group has a market cap of $75.2 billion and is part of the financial sector. Shares are up 31.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 4 analysts that rate Goldman Sachs Group a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 16 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Goldman Sachs Group as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and attractive valuation levels. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

You can view the full Goldman Sachs Group Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Paulson Capital ( PLCC), down 6.4%, Global X Silver Miners ETF ( SIL), down 6.4%, Cash Store Financial Services ( CSFS), down 6.3% and QIWI PLC ADR ( QIWI), down 5.9% , were all laggards within the financial services industry with State Street ( STT) being today's financial services industry laggard.

Use our financial services section to find industry-relevant news.
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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the financial services industry could consider Financial Select Sector SPDR ( XLF) while those bearish on the financial services industry could consider Proshares Short Financials ( SEF).