Dow Today: United Technologies (UTX) Leads The Day Higher, Cisco Systems (CSCO) Lags

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) is trading up 15 points (+0.1%) at 12,898 as of Thursday, Feb 9, 2012, 9:40 a.m. ET. During this time, 86.9 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands vs. an average daily trading volume of 818.6 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,813 issues advancing vs. 721 declining with 191 unchanged.

The Dow component leading the way higher looks to be United Technologies (NYSE:UTX), which is sporting a $2.18 gain (+2.7%) bringing the stock to $83.92. This single gain is lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 16.5 points or roughly accounting for 110% of the Dow's overall gain. Volume for United Technologies currently sits at 994,421 shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 4.4 million shares.

United Technologies has a market cap of $70.48 billion and is part of the conglomerates sector and conglomerates industry. Shares are up 11.8% year to date as of Wednesday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 2.4%.

United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.6, equal to the average conglomerates industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates United Technologies as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results.

• You can view the full United Ratings Report.

Holding back the Dow today is Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO), which is lagging the broader Dow index with a 24-cent decline (-1.2%) bringing the stock to $20.19. Volume for Cisco Systems currently sits at 13 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 46.8 million shares.

• See our dividend calendar or top-yielding stocks list.

Cisco Systems has a market cap of $106.52 billion and is part of the technology sector and computer hardware industry. Shares are up 13% year to date as of Wednesday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 1.2%.

Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 17.4, above the average computer hardware industry P/E ratio of 17.1 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Cisco Systems as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, attractive valuation levels, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, good cash flow from operations and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Cisco Systems Ratings Report.

For more information on United Technologies Corp click any of the following:

• United Technologies Corp Stock Price

• United Technologies Corp Analyst Ratings

• United Technologies Corp Key Stats & Profile

• United Technologies Corp Earnings

• United Technologies Corp Ratio Comparison

• United Technologies Corp Growth Rates

• United Technologies Corp Balance Sheet

• United Technologies Corp Cash Flow

• United Technologies Corp Income Statement