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Has Imperial Oil (IMO) Outpaced Other Oils-Energy Stocks This Year?

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Investors interested in Oils-Energy stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Imperial Oil (IMO - 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? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Oils-Energy peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Imperial Oil is a member of the Oils-Energy sector. This group includes 253 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #1. 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. Imperial Oil is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IMO's full-year earnings has moved 8.1% higher within the past quarter. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the latest available data, IMO has gained about 29.2% so far this year. At the same time, Oils-Energy stocks have gained an average of 28.6%. This means that Imperial Oil is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another stock in the Oils-Energy sector, Vista Oil & Gas, S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADR (VIST - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 83.7%.

For Vista Oil & Gas, S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADR, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 43.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, Imperial Oil belongs to the Oil and Gas - Integrated - Canadian industry, a group that includes 4 individual stocks and currently sits at #9 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 39% so far this year, meaning that IMO is slightly underperforming its industry in terms of year-to-date returns.

Vista Oil & Gas, S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADR, however, belongs to the Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry. Currently, this 16-stock industry is ranked #23. The industry has moved +33.9% so far this year.

Going forward, investors interested in Oils-Energy stocks should continue to pay close attention to Imperial Oil and Vista Oil & Gas, S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADR as they could maintain their solid performance.


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