Has Mosaic (MOS) Outpaced Other Basic Materials Stocks This Year?

PLL MOS

The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Mosaic (MOS - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Basic Materials peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Mosaic is one of 251 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #8 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Mosaic is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MOS' full-year earnings has moved 4% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, MOS has returned 55.9% so far this year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 6.5%. This shows that Mosaic is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (PLL - Free Report) is another Basic Materials stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 114.9%.

For Piedmont Lithium Inc. the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0.4% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

To break things down more, Mosaic belongs to the Fertilizers industry, a group that includes 7 individual companies and currently sits at #4 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 32.8% this year, meaning that MOS is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

On the other hand, Piedmont Lithium Inc. belongs to the Mining - Miscellaneous industry. This 51-stock industry is currently ranked #155. The industry has moved -0.6% year to date.

Mosaic and Piedmont Lithium Inc. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

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