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Is Gold Fields Limited (GFI) Outperforming Other Basic Materials Stocks 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. Gold Fields (GFI - 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 Basic Materials peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Gold Fields is one of 240 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #9 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 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. Gold Fields is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GFI's full-year earnings has moved 9.1% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

According to our latest data, GFI has moved about 200% on a year-to-date basis. In comparison, Basic Materials companies have returned an average of 22.1%. This means that Gold Fields is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another Basic Materials stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Alamos Gold (AGI - Free Report) . The stock has returned 72.7% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Alamos Gold's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 8.4%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

To break things down more, Gold Fields belongs to the Mining - Gold industry, a group that includes 41 individual companies and currently sits at #31 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 115% so far this year, meaning that GFI is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Alamos Gold is also part of the same industry.

Investors interested in the Basic Materials sector may want to keep a close eye on Gold Fields and Alamos Gold as they attempt to continue their solid performance.


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