Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR (RDS.B): Today's Featured Basic Materials Loser

Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR (RDS.B) pushed the Basic Materials sector lower today making it today's featured Basic Materials loser. The sector as a whole closed the day up 1.2%. By the end of trading, Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR fell 71 cents (-1.1%) to $64.73 on average volume. Throughout the day, 887,647 shares of Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 828,800 shares. The stock ranged in price between $63.81-$65.05 after having opened the day at $64.76 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $65.44. Other company's within the Basic Materials sector that declined today were: GeoPetro Resources Company (GPR), down 15.3%, Tri-Valley Corporation (TIV), down 8.9%, China Natural Resources (CHNR), down 8.3%, and Augusta Resource Corporation (AZC), down 8.3%.

Royal Dutch Shell plc operates as an oil and gas company worldwide. The company explores for and extracts crude oil and natural gas. Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR has a market cap of $208.21 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.3, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 13.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, attractive valuation levels, good cash flow from operations, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins.

• You can view the full Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADR Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Recon Technology (RCON), up 39.5%, Patriot Coal Corporation (PCX), up 22%, Seabridge Gold (SA), up 17.4%, and HyperDynamics Corporation (HDY), up 17.4%, were all gainers within the basic materials sector with Halliburton Company (HAL) being today's featured basic materials sector winner.

• Use our basic materials section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the basic materials sector could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the basic materials sector could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.