AmeriGas Partners LP (APU): Today's Featured Utilities Loser

AmeriGas Partners (APU) pushed the Utilities sector lower today making it today's featured Utilities loser. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, AmeriGas Partners fell 47 cents (-1.2%) to $40.05 on light volume. Throughout the day, 146,498 shares of AmeriGas Partners exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 251,000 shares. The stock ranged in price between $39.87-$40.59 after having opened the day at $40.47 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $40.52. Other company's within the Utilities sector that declined today were: GenOn Energy (GEN), down 4.7%, GreenHunter Energy (GRH), down 3.3%, American Midstream Partners (AMID), down 2%, and Delta Natural Gas Company (DGAS), down 1.9%.

AmeriGas Partners, L.P., through its subsidiary, AmeriGas Propane, L.P., operates as a retail and wholesale distributor of propane gas in the United States. AmeriGas Partners has a market cap of $3.74 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 21, below the average utilities industry P/E ratio of 37 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 17% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there is one analyst that rates AmeriGas Partners a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates AmeriGas Partners as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full AmeriGas Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Distribution and Marketing Company of the N (EDN), up 9.9%, China Hydroelectric Corporation (CHC), up 5.3%, EQT (EQT), up 4.1%, and American DG Energy (ADGE), up 3.2%, were all gainers within the utilities sector with Exelon (EXC) being today's featured utilities sector winner.

• Use our utilities section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the utilities sector could consider Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) while those bearish on the utilities sector could consider ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on AmeriGas Partners LP click any of the following:

• AmeriGas Partners LP Stock Price

• AmeriGas Partners LP Analyst Ratings

• AmeriGas Partners LP Key Stats & Profile

• AmeriGas Partners LP Earnings

• AmeriGas Partners LP Ratio Comparison

• AmeriGas Partners LP Growth Rates

• AmeriGas Partners LP Balance Sheet

• AmeriGas Partners LP Cash Flow

• AmeriGas Partners LP Income Statement