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Are Basic Materials Stocks Lagging Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) This Year?

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Investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM - 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.

Agnico Eagle Mines is a member of our Basic Materials group, which includes 238 different companies and currently sits at #10 in 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 emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Agnico Eagle Mines is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM's full-year earnings has moved 19.8% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, AEM has returned 73.4% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Basic Materials sector has returned an average of 13.5% on a year-to-date basis. This means that Agnico Eagle Mines is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another Basic Materials stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Mosaic (MOS - Free Report) . The stock has returned 30.1% year-to-date.

For Mosaic, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 30.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Breaking things down more, Agnico Eagle Mines is a member of the Mining - Gold industry, which includes 39 individual companies and currently sits at #68 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 72.5% this year, meaning that AEM is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

On the other hand, Mosaic belongs to the Fertilizers industry. This 6-stock industry is currently ranked #15. The industry has moved +16.5% year to date.

Agnico Eagle Mines and Mosaic 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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