Contextuall's  Instablog

If you're looking for stocks that are outperforming their competitors, the following list might be a good starting point for your research.

Here is a list of the top performing Basic Materials stocks over the last week.

The list has been sorted by each stock's alpha vs. their industry average.

To help you explore the companies listed below, we've also included links to industry descriptions and corporate websites.

More Posts Like This: Top Weekly Returns in Basic Materials Sector

All data mentioned below current as of 8/29/2012.

1. Molycorp, Inc. (MCP): Returned 26.87% over the last week vs. an industry average of -2.84%. (Industry: Industrial Metals & Minerals. Alpha vs. industry at 29.71%, based on average of 40 companies)

Focuses on the production and sale of rare earth oxides from stockpiled feedstocks in the western hemisphere. (Link to Molycorp, Inc. website)

2. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (FET): Returned 7.39% over the last week vs. an industry average of -2.44%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Equipment & Services. Alpha vs. industry at 9.83%, based on average of 31 companies)

3. Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. (AAV): Returned 7.62% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.18%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration. Alpha vs. industry at 8.8%, based on average of 52 companies)

Engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.

4. WPX Energy, Inc. (WPX): Returned 6.46% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.72%. (Industry: Independent Oil & Gas. Alpha vs. industry at 8.18%, based on average of 72 companies)

5. KiOR, Inc. (KIOR): Returned 8.26% over the last week vs. an industry average of 0.36%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing. Alpha vs. industry at 7.9%, based on average of 27 companies)

Focuses on operating as a renewable fuels company. (Link to KiOR, Inc. website)

6. PDC Energy, Inc. (PDCE): Returned 5.95% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.72%. (Industry: Independent Oil & Gas. Alpha vs. industry at 7.67%, based on average of 72 companies)

7. Taseko Mines Ltd. (TGB): Returned 4.64% over the last week vs. an industry average of -2.84%. (Industry: Industrial Metals & Minerals. Alpha vs. industry at 7.48%, based on average of 40 companies)

Engages in the exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties in British Columbia, Canada.

8. Rose Rock Midstream, L.P. (RRMS): Returned 7.42% over the last week vs. an industry average of 0.23%. (Industry: Major Integrated Oil & Gas. Alpha vs. industry at 7.19%, based on average of 18 companies)

9. Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP (CLMT): Returned 7.47% over the last week vs. an industry average of 0.36%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing. Alpha vs. industry at 7.11%, based on average of 27 companies)

Produces and sells specialty hydrocarbon products in North America. (Link to Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP website)

10. Crestwood Midstream Partners LP (CMLP): Returned 5.68% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.18%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration. Alpha vs. industry at 6.86%, based on average of 52 companies)

Engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas primarily on the Barnett Shale formation of the Fort Worth Basin in north Texas. (Link to Crestwood Midstream Partners LP website)

11. Vantage Drilling Company (VTG): Returned 5.44% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.18%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration. Alpha vs. industry at 6.62%, based on average of 52 companies)

Provides offshore contract drilling services to large multinational oil and natural gas companies, government owned oil and natural gas companies, and independent oil and natural gas producers in the United States and internationally. (Link to Vantage Drilling Company website)

12. InterOil Corporation (IOC): Returned 6.56% over the last week vs. an industry average of 0.36%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing. Alpha vs. industry at 6.2%, based on average of 27 companies)

Engages in the exploration, appraisal, and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in Papua New Guinea.

13. Pacific Drilling S.A. (PACD): Returned 4.7% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.18%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration. Alpha vs. industry at 5.88%, based on average of 52 companies)

14. Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. (MHR): Returned 4.66% over the last week vs. an industry average of -1.18%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration. Alpha vs. industry at 5.84%, based on average of 52 companies)

Engages in the acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas primarily in West Virginia, North Dakota, Texas, and Louisiana. (Link to Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. website)

15. Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL): Returned 6.07% over the last week vs. an industry average of 0.26%. (Industry: Oil & Gas Pipelines. Alpha vs. industry at 5.81%, based on average of 36 companies)

Engages in the transport, terminalling, and storage of refined products and crude oil, as well as the purchase and sale of crude oil in the United States. (Link to Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. website)

16. Allied Nevada Gold Corp. (ANV): Returned 3.67% over the last week vs. an industry average of -2.11%. (Industry: Gold. Alpha vs. industry at 5.78%, based on average of 31 companies)

Engages in the evaluation, acquisition, exploration, and advancement of gold exploration and development projects in the state of Nevada. (Link to Allied Nevada Gold Corp. website)

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.