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Are Basic Materials Stocks Lagging Aperam (APEMY) This Year?

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The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Aperam (APEMY - 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.

Aperam is one of 275 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #14 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 model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Aperam is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for APEMY's full-year earnings has moved 43.5% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

According to our latest data, APEMY has moved about 27.4% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, the Basic Materials sector has returned an average of 18.8% on a year-to-date basis. This shows that Aperam is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Sensient Technologies (SXT - Free Report) is another Basic Materials stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 41.8%.

The consensus estimate for Sensient Technologies' current year EPS has increased 7.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

To break things down more, Aperam belongs to the Steel - Producers industry, a group that includes 17 individual companies and currently sits at #100 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 39.5% so far this year, meaning that APEMY is slightly underperforming its industry in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Sensient Technologies falls under the Chemical - Specialty industry. Currently, this industry has 46 stocks and is ranked #106. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +10.9%.

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

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