Are Finance Stocks Lagging BCB Bancorp NJ (BCBP) This Year?
The Finance group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has BCB Bancorp (BCBP) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Finance peers, we might be able to answer that question.
BCB Bancorp is a member of our Finance group, which includes 887 different companies and currently sits at #3 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.
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. BCB Bancorp is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BCBP's full-year earnings has moved 6.9% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.
Based on the latest available data, BCBP has gained about 27.7% so far this year. In comparison, Finance companies have returned an average of -14.3%. This means that BCB Bancorp is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) is another Finance stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 0.6%.
The consensus estimate for Commerce Bancshares' current year EPS has increased 5.1% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking more specifically, BCB Bancorp belongs to the Banks - Northeast industry, a group that includes 90 individual stocks and currently sits at #16 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have lost 15.7% this year, meaning that BCBP is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
Commerce Bancshares, however, belongs to the Banks - Midwest industry. Currently, this 29-stock industry is ranked #21. The industry has moved -7.6% so far this year.
Investors with an interest in Finance stocks should continue to track BCB Bancorp and Commerce Bancshares. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.
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