Manitowoc Co Inc Stock Upgraded (MTW)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Manitowoc (NYSE:MTW) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and robust revenue growth. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, generally poor debt management and poor profit margins.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• MANITOWOC CO 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. This trend suggests that the performance of the business is improving. During the past fiscal year, MANITOWOC CO turned its bottom line around by earning $0.21 versus -$0.50 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.86 versus $0.21).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Machinery industry. The net income increased by 123.3% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from -$65.80 million to $15.30 million.
• MTW has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, declining 16.24% from its price level of one year ago. Looking ahead, other than the push or pull of the broad market, we do not see anything in the company's numbers that may help reverse the decline experienced over the past 12 months. Despite the past decline, the stock is still selling for more than most others in its industry.
• The debt-to-equity ratio is very high at 3.99 and currently higher than the industry average, implying that there is very poor management of debt levels within the company. Along with this, the company manages to maintain a quick ratio of 0.34, which clearly demonstrates the inability to cover short-term cash needs.

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The Manitowoc Company, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of cranes and related products, and foodservice equipment. The company operates through two segments, Cranes and Related Products, and Foodservice Equipment. Manitowoc has a market cap of $1.64 billion and is part of the industrial goods sector and industrial industry. Shares are up 74.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

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

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