Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Is Glencore PLC (GLNCY) Stock Outpacing Its Basic Materials Peers This Year?

Read MoreHide Full Article

Investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Glencore PLC (GLNCY - Free Report) 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 Basic Materials sector should help us answer this question.

Glencore PLC is one of 243 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #5 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

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. Glencore PLC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GLNCY's full-year earnings has moved 0.2% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Based on the most recent data, GLNCY has returned 12.8% so far this year. In comparison, Basic Materials companies have returned an average of 2.8%. This means that Glencore PLC is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another Basic Materials stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Huntsman (HUN - Free Report) . The stock has returned 17.7% year-to-date.

For Huntsman, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 4.6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Glencore PLC belongs to the Mining - Miscellaneous industry, a group that includes 50 individual stocks and currently sits at #100 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 11.3% this year, meaning that GLNCY is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Huntsman falls under the Chemical - Diversified industry. Currently, this industry has 40 stocks and is ranked #86. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved -4.7%.

Glencore PLC and Huntsman could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


Huntsman Corporation (HUN) - free report >>

Glencore PLC (GLNCY) - free report >>

Published in