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Is Reliance, Inc. (RS) Stock Outpacing Its Basic Materials Peers 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. Has Reliance (RS - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? 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.

Reliance is one of 275 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #15 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. Reliance is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for RS' full-year earnings has moved 17.1% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Our latest available data shows that RS has returned about 47.9% since the start of the calendar year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 16.6%. This shows that Reliance is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Another stock in the Basic Materials sector, Compass Minerals (CMP - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 35.6%.

For Compass Minerals, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 6.1% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Reliance belongs to the Mining - Miscellaneous industry, a group that includes 86 individual stocks and currently sits at #189 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 25.5% so far this year, so RS is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

On the other hand, Compass Minerals belongs to the Chemical - Diversified industry. This 31-stock industry is currently ranked #97. The industry has moved +21.4% year to date.

Reliance and Compass Minerals 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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