Investors interested in Oils-Energy stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Antero Resources (AR) 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? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Oils-Energy sector should help us answer this question.

Antero Resources is one of 247 individual stocks in the Oils-Energy sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #5 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

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. Antero Resources is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AR's full-year earnings has moved 46.3% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, AR has gained about 14.2% so far this year. In comparison, Oils-Energy companies have returned an average of 5.2%. This means that Antero Resources is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another Oils-Energy stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG). The stock has returned 40.2% year-to-date.

In Constellation Energy Corporation's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 3.8% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Antero Resources belongs to the Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, a group that includes 34 individual stocks and currently sits at #46 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has lost an average of 12.9% so far this year, meaning that AR is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

Constellation Energy Corporation, however, belongs to the Alternative Energy - Other industry. Currently, this 47-stock industry is ranked #61. The industry has moved +15% so far this year.

Investors with an interest in Oils-Energy stocks should continue to track Antero Resources and Constellation Energy Corporation. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

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