4 Stocks Pushing The Basic Materials Sector Higher

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

Two out of the three major indices are trading lower today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) trading up 14 points (0.1%) at 12,892 as of Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, 12:00 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,435 issues advancing vs. 1,435 declining with 148 unchanged.

The Basic Materials sector currently sits down 0.2% versus the S&P 500, which is down 0.0%. Top gainers within the sector include Encana (ECA), up 1.4%, Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (PBR.A), up 0.8%, Total (TOT), up 0.7%, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (POT), up 0.6% and Chevron (CVX), up 0.6%. On the negative front, top decliners within the sector include InterOil Corporation (IOC), down 5.5%, Ensco (ESV), down 2.2%, Southwestern Energy Company (SWN), down 1.8%, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG), down 1.6% and Continental Resources (CLR), down 1.5%.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 4 stocks pushing the sector higher today:

4. Imperial Oil (IMO) is one of the companies pushing the Basic Materials sector higher today. As of noon trading, Imperial Oil is up $0.24 (0.6%) to $42.96 on heavy volume Thus far, 220,376 shares of Imperial Oil exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 199,900 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $42.23-$43.04 after having opened the day at $42.23 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $42.72.

Imperial Oil Limited engages in the exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical. Imperial Oil has a market cap of $36.8 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 4.0% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are no analysts that rate Imperial Oil a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Imperial Oil as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, attractive valuation levels and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow. Get the full Imperial Oil Ratings Report now.

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