Hurco Companies Inc. Stock Upgraded (HURC)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Hurco Companies (Nasdaq:HURC) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, 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:

• HURC's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 27.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 28.8%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
• HURC's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.01 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.39, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• HURCO COMPANIES 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 two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, HURCO COMPANIES INC turned its bottom line around by earning $1.71 versus -$0.89 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($2.17 versus $1.71).
• 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 199.7% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $1.55 million to $4.63 million.

.

Hurco Companies, Inc., an industrial technology company, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of computerized machine tools worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 12.3, below the average electronics industry P/E ratio of 12.6 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Hurco Companies has a market cap of $139.3 million and is part of the technology sector and electronics industry. Shares are up 30% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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

For more information on Hurco Companies Inc. click any of the following:

• Hurco Companies Inc. Stock Price

• Hurco Companies Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Hurco Companies Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Hurco Companies Inc. Earnings

• Hurco Companies Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Hurco Companies Inc. Growth Rates

• Hurco Companies Inc. Balance Sheet

• Hurco Companies Inc. Cash Flow

• Hurco Companies Inc. Income Statement