Are Finance Stocks Lagging Bank First National (BFC) This Year?

The Finance group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Bank First Corporation (BFC) 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.

Bank First Corporation is a member of our Finance group, which includes 848 different companies and currently sits at #5 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. Bank First Corporation is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BFC's full-year earnings has moved 35.3% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, BFC has returned 12.1% so far this year. In comparison, Finance companies have returned an average of -2%. As we can see, Bank First Corporation is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

One other Finance stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is BankUnited, Inc. (BKU). The stock is up 4.4% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, BankUnited, Inc.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 15.8%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, Bank First Corporation belongs to the Banks - Northeast industry, a group that includes 73 individual stocks and currently sits at #43 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 4.3% so far this year, so BFC is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

BankUnited, Inc., however, belongs to the Banks - Major Regional industry. Currently, this 9-stock industry is ranked #21. The industry has moved +1% so far this year.

Investors with an interest in Finance stocks should continue to track Bank First Corporation and BankUnited, Inc.. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.