Lan Airlines SA Stock Downgraded (LFL)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Lan Airlines (NYSE:LFL) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. Among the primary strengths of the company is its revenue growth. At the same time, however, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, deteriorating net income and feeble growth in the company's earnings per share.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 1.3%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 12.6%. 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.
• LAN AIRLINES SA's earnings per share declined by 24.1% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past year. However, the consensus estimate suggests that this trend should reverse in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, LAN AIRLINES SA reported lower earnings of $0.95 versus $1.23 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($1.30 versus $0.95).
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and greatly underperformed compared to the Airlines industry average. The net income has decreased by 21.7% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, dropping from $97.24 million to $76.10 million.
• In its most recent trading session, LFL has closed at a price level that was not very different from its closing price of one year earlier. This is probably due to its weak earnings growth as well as other mixed factors. Looking ahead, we do not see anything in this company's numbers that would change the one-year trend. It was down over the last twelve months; and it could be down again in the next twelve. Naturally, a bull or bear market could sway the movement of this stock.

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Lan Airlines S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services. The company offers air cargo transportation services to other international air carriers, freight-forwarding companies, export oriented companies, and individual consumers. The company has a P/E ratio of 28.9, above the average transportation industry P/E ratio of 28.8 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Lan Airlines has a market cap of $9.25 billion and is part of the services sector and transportation industry. Shares are up 17% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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

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