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

Investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Has Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) 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.Agnico Eagle Mines is a member of the Basic Materials sector. This group includes 240 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #6. 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. Agnico Eagle Mines is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM's full-year earnings has moved 6.1% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.According to our latest data, AEM has moved about 107.9% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, the Basic Materials sector has returned an average of 20.5% on a year-to-date basis. This means that Agnico Eagle Mines is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.First Majestic Silver (AG) is another Basic Materials stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 137.2%.For First Majestic Silver, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 225.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).Looking more specifically, Agnico Eagle Mines belongs to the Mining - Gold industry, a group that includes 41 individual stocks and currently sits at #19 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 107.3% this year, meaning that AEM is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. On the other hand, First Majestic Silver belongs to the Mining - Silver industry. This 9-stock industry is currently ranked #5. The industry has moved +103.9% year to date.Going forward, investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to Agnico Eagle Mines and First Majestic Silver as they could maintain their solid performance.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM): Free Stock Analysis Report First Majestic Silver Corp. (AG): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks