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Is Kronos Worldwide (KRO) 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 Kronos Worldwide (KRO - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Kronos Worldwide is one of 294 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 successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Kronos Worldwide is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO's full-year earnings has moved 205.2% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

Based on the most recent data, KRO has returned 72.2% so far this year. In comparison, Basic Materials companies have returned an average of 10.8%. As we can see, Kronos Worldwide is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Quaker Chemical (KWR - 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 13.6%.

In Quaker Chemical's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 9.6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Kronos Worldwide belongs to the Chemical - Diversified industry, a group that includes 32 individual stocks and currently sits at #206 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 9.5% so far this year, meaning that KRO is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

Quaker Chemical, however, belongs to the Chemical - Specialty industry. Currently, this 47-stock industry is ranked #181. The industry has moved +7.1% so far this year.

Kronos Worldwide and Quaker Chemical 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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