Iridex Corporation Stock Downgraded (IRIX)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Iridex Corporation (Nasdaq:IRIX) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and reasonable valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and disappointing return on equity.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• IRIX's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 6.3%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 1.3%. 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.
• IRIX has no debt to speak of therefore resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, which we consider to be a relatively favorable sign. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 3.20, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
• Looking at where the stock is today compared to one year ago, we find that it is not only higher, but it has also clearly outperformed the rise in the S&P 500 over the same period, despite the company's weak earnings results. Despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year, there is currently no conclusive evidence that warrants the purchase or sale of this stock.
• IRIDEX CORP has exprienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. During the past fiscal year, IRIDEX CORP reported lower earnings of $0.21 versus $0.30 in the prior year.
• Current return on equity is lower than its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of weakness within the company. In comparison to the other companies in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry and the overall market, IRIDEX 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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IRIDEX Corporation provides therapeutic based laser systems, delivery devices, and consumable instrumentation to treat sight-threatening eye diseases in the United States, Europe, rest of the Americas, and the Asia/Pacific Rim. The company has a P/E ratio of 21.4, above the average health services industry P/E ratio of 10.7 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Iridex has a market cap of $36.7 million and is part of the health care sector and health services industry. Shares are up 6.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

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

 

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