Earthlink Inc. Stock Downgraded (ELNK)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Earthlink (Nasdaq:ELNK) 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, reasonable valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 23.2%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 41.7%. 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.
• ELNK's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87 is somewhat low overall, but it is high when compared to the industry average, implying that the management of the debt levels should be evaluated further. Despite the fact that ELNK's debt-to-equity ratio is mixed in its results, the company's quick ratio of 1.56 is high and demonstrates strong liquidity.
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Internet Software & Services industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 55.6% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $16.36 million to $7.26 million.
• 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. Compared to other companies in the Internet Software & Services industry and the overall market, EARTHLINK INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

EarthLink, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides network, communications, and IT services to business and residential customers in the United States. The company operates in two reportable segments, Business Services and Consumer Services. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.6, below the average internet industry P/E ratio of 31 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Earthlink has a market cap of $789.1 million and is part of the technology sector and internet industry. Shares are up 19.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

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

• Earthlink Inc. Stock Price

• Earthlink Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Earthlink Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Earthlink Inc. Earnings

• Earthlink Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Earthlink Inc. Growth Rates

• Earthlink Inc. Balance Sheet

• Earthlink Inc. Cash Flow

• Earthlink Inc. Income Statement