QLT Inc. Stock Upgraded (QLTI)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- QLT (Nasdaq:QLTI) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell 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 solid stock price performance. 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 weak operating cash flow.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 4.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 1.0%. 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.
• QLTI 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 17.94, 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.
• 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 the Biotechnology industry average. The net income has decreased by 20.2% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, dropping from -$8.55 million to -$10.28 million.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to -$11.74 million or 27.46% when compared to the same quarter last year. In conjunction, when comparing current results to the industry average, QLT INC has marginally lower results.

QLT Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of ocular products that address the unmet medical needs of patients and clinicians. QLT has a market cap of $372.4 million and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. Shares are up 4.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full QLT 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 QLT Inc. click any of the following:

• QLT Inc. Stock Price

• QLT Inc. Analyst Ratings

• QLT Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• QLT Inc. Earnings

• QLT Inc. Ratio Comparison

• QLT Inc. Growth Rates

• QLT Inc. Balance Sheet

• QLT Inc. Cash Flow

• QLT Inc. Income Statement