TheStreet Ratings Top 10 Rating Changes

Rating Change #3

Baytex Energy (BTE) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and generally poor debt management.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 98.2% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $51.95 million to $0.95 million.
• The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. In comparison to the other companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry and the overall market, BAYTEX ENERGY CORP's return on equity is significantly below that of the industry average and is below that of the S&P 500.
• Compared to its closing price of one year ago, BTE's share price has jumped by 61.83%, exceeding the performance of the broader market during that same time frame. Setting our sights on the months ahead, however, we feel that the stock's sharp appreciation over the last year has driven it to a price level which is now relatively expensive compared to the rest of its industry. The implication is that its reduced upside potential is not good enough to warrant further investment at this time.
• Net operating cash flow has increased to $119.90 million or 27.35% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, BAYTEX ENERGY CORP has also modestly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 25.47%.
• BTE's revenue growth trails the industry average of 23.6%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 9.8%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.

Baytex Energy Corp., through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and the United States. The company has a P/E ratio of 38.5, below the average energy industry P/E ratio of 46.5 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Baytex Energy has a market cap of $5.9 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and energy industry. Shares are up 7.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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

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