The Utilities group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Avista (AVA) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Utilities sector should help us answer this question.Avista is one of 106 companies in the Utilities group. The Utilities group curren ...