Have you been paying attention to shares of Avantor (AVTR)? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 4.2% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $37.5 in the previous session. Avantor has gained 32.1% since the start of the year compared to the -1.1% move for the Zacks Medical sector and the -33.2% return for the Zacks Medical Services industry.What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 28, 2021, Avantor, Inc. reported EPS of $0.35 versus consensus estimate of $0.28 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 4.84%.For the current fiscal year, Avantor, Inc. is expected to post earnings of $1.27 per share on $7.13 billion in revenues. This represents a 42.7% change in EPS on a 11.58% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $1.41 per share on $7.49 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 10.76% and 4.97%, respectively.Valuation MetricsAvantor, Inc. may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.Avantor, Inc. has a Value Score of C. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 29.3X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 21.7X versus its peer group's average of 24.5X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.39. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.Zacks RankWe also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Avantor, Inc. currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Avantor, Inc. fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though Avantor, Inc. shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.How Does Avantor, Inc. Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of Avantor, Inc. have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? Some of its industry peers are also solid potential picks, including Tivity Health (TVTY), AMN Healthcare Services (AMN), and ICON (ICLR), all of which currently have a Zacks Rank of at least #2 and a VGM Score of at least B, making them well-rounded choices.The Zacks Industry Rank is in the top 37% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for Avantor, Inc.even beyond its own solid fundamental situation. Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027. After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%. You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.Today, Download Marijuana Moneymakers FREE >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Avantor, Inc. (AVTR): Free Stock Analysis Report AMN Healthcare Services Inc (AMN): Free Stock Analysis Report ICON PLC (ICLR): Free Stock Analysis Report Tivity Health, Inc. (TVTY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.