Investors interested in Finance stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? 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.
Ameris Bancorp is one of 867 companies in the Finance group. The Finance group currently sits at #3 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. Ameris Bancorp is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ABCB's full-year earnings has moved 1% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.
Our latest available data shows that ABCB has returned about 15.7% since the start of the calendar year. At the same time, Finance stocks have gained an average of 12.7%. This shows that Ameris Bancorp is outperforming its peers so far this year.
Another stock in the Finance sector, EPR Properties (EPR), has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 17.7%.
For EPR Properties, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, Ameris Bancorp is a member of the Banks - Southeast industry, which includes 56 individual companies and currently sits at #39 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 10.6% so far this year, so ABCB is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.
EPR Properties, however, belongs to the REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry. Currently, this 20-stock industry is ranked #80. The industry has moved -6.6% so far this year.
Ameris Bancorp and EPR Properties could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Finance stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
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Ameris Bancorp (ABCB): Free Stock Analysis Report EPR Properties (EPR): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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