In the latest trading session, NetApp (NTAP) closed at $119.01, marking a -0.62% move from the previous day. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.92% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.96%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.6%.

Coming into today, shares of the data storage company had lost 2.6% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector gained 3.64%, while the S&P 500 gained 2.68%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of NetApp in its upcoming release. On that day, NetApp is projected to report earnings of $1.79 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 13.29%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.65 billion, up 5.34% from the year-ago period.

NTAP's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $7.08 per share and revenue of $6.58 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +9.6% and +4.95%, respectively.

Furthermore, it would be beneficial for investors to monitor any recent shifts in analyst projections for NetApp. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. NetApp presently features a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that NetApp has a Forward P/E ratio of 16.92 right now. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 14.3, so one might conclude that NetApp is trading at a premium comparatively.

It is also worth noting that NTAP currently has a PEG ratio of 3.62. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The Computer- Storage Devices was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.15 at yesterday's closing price.

The Computer- Storage Devices industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 102, positioning it in the top 41% of all 250+ industries.