Orbotech Ltd. Stock Upgraded (ORBK)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Orbotech (Nasdaq:ORBK) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, robust revenue growth and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The current debt-to-equity ratio, 0.33, is low and is below the industry average, implying that there has been successful management of debt levels. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 2.69, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
• Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 36.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 34.2%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. The net income increased by 595.0% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $1.61 million to $11.20 million.
• ORBOTECH LTD reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, ORBOTECH LTD turned its bottom line around by earning $1.25 versus -$0.46 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($1.45 versus $1.25).
• Compared to where it was a year ago today, the stock is now trading at a higher level, reflecting both the market's overall trend during that period and the fact that the company's earnings growth has been robust. Turning our attention to the future direction of the stock, it goes without saying that even the best stocks can fall in an overall down market. However, in any other environment, this stock still has good upside potential despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year.

Orbotech Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and service of production solutions for specialized applications in the supply chain of the electronics industry worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 7.3, below the average electronics industry P/E ratio of 13.3 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Orbotech has a market cap of $445.7 million and is part of the technology sector and electronics industry. Shares are up 6.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Orbotech Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

For more information on Orbotech Ltd. click any of the following:

• Orbotech Ltd. Stock Price

• Orbotech Ltd. Analyst Ratings

• Orbotech Ltd. Key Stats & Profile

• Orbotech Ltd. Earnings

• Orbotech Ltd. Ratio Comparison

• Orbotech Ltd. Growth Rates

• Orbotech Ltd. Balance Sheet

• Orbotech Ltd. Cash Flow

• Orbotech Ltd. Income Statement