Vascular Solutions Inc. Stock Downgraded (VASC)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Vascular Solutions (Nasdaq:VASC) 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, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and reasonable valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 6.5%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 5.8%. 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.
• VASC has no debt to speak of therefore resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, which we consider to be a relatively favorable sign. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 2.92, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
• After a year of stock price fluctuations, the net result is that VASC's price has not changed very much. Although its weak earnings growth may have played a role in this flat result, don't lose sight of the fact that the performance of the overall market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, was essentially similar. Despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year, there is currently no conclusive evidence that warrants the purchase or sale of this stock.
• 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 Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 85.6% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $14.97 million to $2.16 million.
• Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. When compared to other companies in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry and the overall market, VASCULAR SOLUTIONS INC's return on equity is below that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

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Vascular Solutions, Inc., a medical device company, develops solutions for interventional cardiologists and interventional radiologists worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.3, above the average health services industry P/E ratio of 8.5 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Vascular has a market cap of $191.6 million and is part of the health care sector and health services industry. Shares are down 0.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full Vascular Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.
-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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• Vascular Solutions Inc. Growth Rates

• Vascular Solutions Inc. Balance Sheet

• Vascular Solutions Inc. Cash Flow

• Vascular Solutions Inc. Income Statement