This Week’s Top 5 Financial Stocks: September 14, 2012

Below we’re listed the top performing Financial stocks over the last week, ranked by their alpha relative to industry averages.

The stocks listed below have been ranked by stock performance relative to their industry competitors.

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

All data below current as of 9/13/2012.

1. National Bank of Greece SA (NBG): Returned 38.89% over the last week vs. an industry average of 5.44%. (Industry: Money Center Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 33.45%, based on average of 21 companies)

Provides diversified financial services primarily in Greece.


2. MGIC Investment Corp. (MTG): Returned 33.86% over the last week vs. an industry average of 3.28%. (Industry: Property & Casualty Insurance. Alpha vs. industry at 30.58%, based on average of 54 companies)

MGIC Investment Corporation, through its subsidiary, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation, provides private mortgage insurance to the home mortgage lending industry in the United States.


3. Homex Development Corp. (HXM): Returned 16% over the last week vs. an industry average of 4.28%. (Industry: Property Management. Alpha vs. industry at 11.72%, based on average of 14 companies)

Operates as a vertically integrated home development company principally engaged in the development, construction, and sale of affordable entry-level, middle-income, and tourism housing in Mexico; and affordable entry-level housing in Brazil.


4. Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. (EBSB): Returned 13.49% over the last week vs. an industry average of 2.61%. (Industry: Savings & Loans. Alpha vs. industry at 10.88%, based on average of 23 companies)

Operates as a holding company for East Boston Savings Bank that provides various financial services to consumers and businesses in Massachusetts.


5. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (RBS): Returned 20.67% over the last week vs. an industry average of 10.09%. (Industry: Foreign Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 10.58%, based on average of 8 companies)

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, through its subsidiaries, offers banking and financial services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally.

6. E-House (China) Holdings Limited (EJ): Returned 13.43% over the last week vs. an industry average of 4.28%. (Industry: Property Management. Alpha vs. industry at 9.15%, based on average of 14 companies)

Operates as a real estate services company in China.


7. CBRE Group, Inc (CBG): Returned 12.13% over the last week vs. an industry average of 4.28%. (Industry: Property Management. Alpha vs. industry at 7.85%, based on average of 14 companies)

Operates as a commercial real estate services company worldwide.


8. iStar Financial Inc. (SFI): Returned 9.89% over the last week vs. an industry average of 2.07%. (Industry: Diversified REITs. Alpha vs. industry at 7.82%, based on average of 27 companies)

Operates as a finance company focusing on the commercial real estate industry.


9. HFF, Inc. (HF): Returned 10.6% over the last week vs. an industry average of 2.96%. (Industry: Mortgage Investment. Alpha vs. industry at 7.64%, based on average of 8 companies)

Provides commercial real estate and capital markets services to the commercial real estate industry in the United States.


10. Deutsche Bank AG (DB): Returned 13.99% over the last week vs. an industry average of 6.46%. (Industry: Foreign Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 7.53%, based on average of 18 companies)

Provides investment, financial, and related products and services.


11. Bank of America Corporation (BAC): Returned 12.57% over the last week vs. an industry average of 5.44%. (Industry: Money Center Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 7.13%, based on average of 21 companies)

Provides banking and financial services to individuals, small- and middle-market businesses, corporations, and governments primarily in the United States and internationally.


12. Grupo Financiero Galicia S.A. (GGAL): Returned 13.2% over the last week vs. an industry average of 6.46%. (Industry: Foreign Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 6.74%, based on average of 18 companies)

Operates as the holding company for Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.


13. Barclays PLC (BCS): Returned 16.57% over the last week vs. an industry average of 10.09%. (Industry: Foreign Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 6.48%, based on average of 8 companies)

Provides various financial products and services in Europe, the United States, Africa, and Asia.


14. The Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC): Returned 7.61% over the last week vs. an industry average of 2.07%. (Industry: Diversified REITs. Alpha vs. industry at 5.54%, based on average of 27 companies)

The Howard Hughes Corporation is a real estate investment and development company, engaging in managing, developing, and leasing commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate.


15. Morgan Stanley (MS): Returned 10.15% over the last week vs. an industry average of 4.72%. (Industry: Investment Brokerage. Alpha vs. industry at 5.43%, based on average of 14 companies)

Provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals worldwide.


16. PHH Corporation (PHH): Returned 8.62% over the last week vs. an industry average of 3.23%. (Industry: Credit Services. Alpha vs. industry at 5.39%, based on average of 18 companies)

Provides mortgage and fleet management outsourcing services in the United States and Canada.


17. ING Groep NV (ING): Returned 9.44% over the last week vs. an industry average of 4.09%. (Industry: Life Insurance. Alpha vs. industry at 5.35%, based on average of 21 companies)

Provides banking, investment, life insurance, and retirement services worldwide.


18. Citigroup, Inc. (C): Returned 10.7% over the last week vs. an industry average of 5.44%. (Industry: Money Center Banks. Alpha vs. industry at 5.26%, based on average of 21 companies)

Provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a range of financial products and services.