TheStreet Ratings Top 10 Rating Changes

NEW YORK (TheStreet Ratings) -- Every trading day TheStreet Ratings' stock model reviews the investment ratings on around 4,700 U.S. traded stocks for potential upgrades or downgrades based on the latest available financial results and trading activity.

TheStreet Ratings released rating changes on 96 U.S. common stocks for week ending May 18, 2012. 24 stocks were upgraded and 72 stocks were downgraded by our stock model.

Rating Change #10

Cameco Corp (CCJ) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. 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 and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself and disappointing return on equity.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 11.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 22.1%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• CCJ's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.20 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 2.75, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
• CAMECO CORP has improved earnings per share by 43.5% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has not demonstrated a clear trend in earnings over the past two years, making it difficult to accurately predict earnings for the coming year. During the past fiscal year, CAMECO CORP reported lower earnings of $1.14 versus $1.30 in the prior year.
• CCJ has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, declining 24.24% from its price level of one year ago. 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.
• The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. In comparison to the other companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry and the overall market, CAMECO CORP's return on equity is significantly below that of the industry average and is below that of the S&P 500.

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Cameco Corporation operates as a uranium producer, supplier of conversion services, and fuel manufacturer. The company's Uranium segment is involved in the exploration for, mining, milling, purchase, and sale of uranium concentrate. The company has a P/E ratio of 17, equal to the average metals & mining industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Cameco has a market cap of $8.33 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and metals & mining industry. Shares are up 16.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

You can view the full Cameco Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

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