TSC Ratings' Updates: Amazon.com

Revenue growth of 8.5% came in higher than the industry average of 5.1%, boosting EPS. The debt-to-equity ratio is somewhat low, currently at 0.68, and is less than that of the industry average, implying a relatively successful effort in the management of debt levels. The company also maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.41, which illustrates its ability to avoid short-term cash problems. Net operating cash flow has increased to $66.79 million, or 11.31% when compared with the same quarter last year. Universal Health Services' cash flow growth rate, however, is still lower than the industry average growth rate of 30.04%.

The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior, implying a minor weakness in the organization. On the basis of ROE, UHS underperformed the industry average and outperformed the S&P 500. The company's gross profit margin is currently extremely low at 12.6%, having decreased from the same quarter last year, but the net profit margin of 4.2% is above the industry average.

We've downgraded Valley National Bancorp(VLY Quote) from buy to hold. Strengths include ts expanding profit margins over time. Weaknesses include a decline in the stock price during the past year, feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and deteriorating net income.

VNB's gross profit margin of 48% is strong, but it has decreased from the same period last year. Net profit margin of 2.3% trails the industry average. Since the same quarter one year ago, revenue fell by 21.9%, and EPS declined. Current ROE is lower than it was in the same quarter last year, a clear sign of weakness. On the basis of ROE VNB outperformed the industry average but underperformed the S&P 500.

VNB has experienced a steep decline in EPS in the most recent quarter compared with the same quarter a year ago. EPS have declined over the last two years, a trend we anticipate should continue. During the past fiscal year, VNB reported lower earnings of $1.21 vs. $1.27 in the prior year, and for the next year, the market expects a contraction of 18.9% to 98 cents. Net income has significantly decreased by 90.1%, from $36.45 million to $3.60 million, underperforming the S&P 500 and the commercial banks industry.

Other ratings changes include Alaska Air(TLAB Quote) and Flanders(FLDR Quote), both downgraded from hold to sell.

All ratings changes generated on Oct. 27 are listed below.

ABFS	ARKANSAS BEST CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
AG	AGCO CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
AIV	APARTMENT INVT & MGMT	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
ALK	ALASKA AIR GROUP INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
AMZN	AMAZON.COM INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
ARBA	ARIBA INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
ASR	GRUPO AEROPORTUARIO SURESTE	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
BMR	BIOMED REALTY TRUST INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
BRO	BROWN & BROWN INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
BTUI	BTU INTERNATIONAL INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
BWINB	BALDWIN & LYONS	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
C	CITIGROUP INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
CCMP	CABOT MICROELECTRONICS CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
CHFC	CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
CJR	CORUS ENTERTAINMENT INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
COG	CABOT OIL & GAS CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
COHR	COHERENT INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
CPII	CPI INTERNATIONAL INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
CPWR	COMPUWARE CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
CTS	CTS CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
DAIO	DATA I/O CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
DE	DEERE & CO	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
ECLP	ECLIPSYS CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
EGOV	NIC INC	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
EGP	EASTGROUP PROPERTIES	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
ELRC	ELECTRO RENT CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
EMCI	EMC INSURANCE GROUP INC	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
EMR	EMERSON ELECTRIC CO	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
ENG	ENGLOBAL CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
EPD	ENTERPRISE PRODS PRTNER -LP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
ESCA	ESCALADE INC	SELL	Downgrade	SELL
FIF	FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
FLDR	FLANDERS CORP	SELL	Downgrade	SELL
FMC	FMC CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
FSTR	FOSTER (LB) CO	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
FUL	FULLER (H. B.) CO	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
GCOM	GLOBECOMM SYSTEMS INC	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
GSBC	GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP	SELL	Downgrade	SELL
GW	GREY WOLF INC	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
HCKT	HACKETT GROUP INC	HOLD	Downgrade	HOLD
HGR	HANGER ORTHOPEDIC GRP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
HP	HELMERICH & PAYNE	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
HW	HEADWATERS INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
IDCC	INTERDIGITAL INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
IMN	IMATION CORP	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
IMO	IMPERIAL OIL LTD	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
INSW	INSWEB CORP	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
INTU	INTUIT INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
ITEX	ITEX CORP	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
JCS	COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
JOEZ	JOE'S JEANS INC	HOLD	Upgrade	SELL
JW.A	WILEY (JOHN) & SONS	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
JW.B	WILEY (JOHN) & SONS	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
KEYN	KEYNOTE SYSTEMS INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
LNCB	LINCOLN BANCORP/IN	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
MAM	MAINE & MARITIMES CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MARPS	MARINE PETROLEUM TRUST	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MCHX	MARCHEX INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
MDR	MCDERMOTT INTL INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MDU	MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MFI	MICROFINANCIAL INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MGRC	MCGRATH RENTCORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MOH	MOLINA HEALTHCARE INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
MTWD	METWOOD INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
NTLS	NTELOS HOLDINGS CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
OMPI	OBAGI MEDICAL PRODUCTS INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
PLUS	EPLUS INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
PNR	PENTAIR INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
PPL	PPL CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
QLGC	QLOGIC CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
RBC	REGAL-BELOIT CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
RNT.A	AARON RENTS INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
SAIA	SAIA INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
SBAC	SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
SID	CSN-CIA SIDERURGICA NACIONAL	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
STEL	STELLARONE CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
SUR	CNA SURETY CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
THG	HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP INC	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
TIN	TEMPLE-INLAND INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
TRMK	TRUSTMARK CORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
UHS	UNIVERSAL HEALTH SVCS	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
USLM	U S LIME & MINERALS	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
VASC	VASCULAR SOLUTIONS INC	BUY	Upgrade	HOLD
VECO	VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
VIV	VIVO PARTICIPACOES SA	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
VLY	VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
WABC	WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION	HOLD	Downgrade	BUY
WEFP	WELLS FINANCIAL CORP	HOLD	Upgrade	SELL
WEST	WESTERN SIZZLIN CORP	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
WFT	WEATHERFORD INTL LTD	SELL	Downgrade	HOLD
XING	QIAO XING UNVERSAL TELEPHONE	SELL	Initiated
Source: TheStreet.com Ratings

Each business day, TheStreet.com Ratings updates its ratings on the stocks it covers. The proprietary ratings model projects a stock's total return potential over a 12-month period, including both price appreciation and dividends. Buy, hold or sell ratings designate how the Ratings group expects these stocks to perform against a general benchmark of the equities market and interest rates.

While the ratings model is quantitative, it uses both subjective and objective elements. For instance, subjective elements include expected equities market returns, future interest rates, implied industry outlook and company earnings forecasts. Objective elements include volatility of past operating revenue, financial strength and company cash flows.

However, the rating does not incorporate all of the factors that can alter a stock's performance. For example, it doesn't always factor in recent corporate or industry events that could affect the stock price, nor does it include recent technology developments and competitive dynamics that may affect the company.

For those reasons, we believe a rating alone cannot tell the whole story, and that it should be part of an investor's overall research.