First California Financial Group Inc. Stock Upgraded (FCAL)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- First California Financial Group (Nasdaq:FCAL) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, increase in stock price during the past year, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and attractive valuation levels. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Commercial Banks industry. The net income increased by 13223.1% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $0.12 million to $15.59 million.
• FIRST CALIF FINL GROUP INC 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 year. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, FIRST CALIF FINL GROUP INC continued to lose money by earning -$0.01 versus -$0.50 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.66 versus -$0.01).
• 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.
• FCAL's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 3.5%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 5.7%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.

First California Financial Group, Inc. operates as the holding company for First California Bank, which provides commercial banking services to individuals, professionals, and small- to mid-sized business in California. The company has a P/E ratio of 6.3, equal to the average banking industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. First California Financial Group has a market cap of $102.3 million and is part of the financial sector and banking industry. Shares are up 25.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

You can view the full First California Financial Group Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

For more information on First California Financial Group Inc. click any of the following:

• First California Financial Group Inc. Stock Price

• First California Financial Group Inc. Analyst Ratings

• First California Financial Group Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• First California Financial Group Inc. Earnings

• First California Financial Group Inc. Ratio Comparison

• First California Financial Group Inc. Growth Rates

• First California Financial Group Inc. Balance Sheet

• First California Financial Group Inc. Cash Flow

• First California Financial Group Inc. Income Statement