Are Finance Stocks Lagging Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) This Year?

The Finance group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. 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 831 individual stocks in the Finance sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #6 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 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 3.5% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.Based on the most recent data, ABCB has returned 19.8% so far this year. At the same time, Finance stocks have gained an average of 3%. This shows that Ameris Bancorp is outperforming its peers so far this year.One other Finance stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Citigroup (C). The stock is up 19.8% year-to-date.The consensus estimate for Citigroup's current year EPS has increased 4.5% 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 53 individual companies and currently sits at #108 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 9.8% so far this year, meaning that ABCB is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Citigroup, however, belongs to the Financial - Investment Bank industry. Currently, this 20-stock industry is ranked #88. The industry has moved +4.7% so far this year.Going forward, investors interested in Finance stocks should continue to pay close attention to Ameris Bancorp and Citigroup as they could maintain their solid performance.Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks