Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF): Today's Featured Metals & Mining Winner

Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) pushed the Metals & Mining industry higher today making it today's featured metals & mining winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.2%. By the end of trading, Cliffs Natural Resources rose 97 cents (1.9%) to $51.73 on average volume. Throughout the day, 4.9 million shares of Cliffs Natural Resources exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.7 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $51.11-$53.13 after having opened the day at $51.64 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $50.76. Other companies within the Metals & Mining industry that increased today were: James River Coal Company (JRCC), up 27.1%, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources (SHZ), up 20.3%, Quest Rare Minerals (QRM), up 17.1%, and Rare Element Resources (REE), up 12.7%.

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Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a mining and natural resources company, engages in the production of iron ore pellets, fines and lump ore, and metallurgical coal. Cliffs Natural Resources has a market cap of $6.95 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 4.4, equal to the average metals & mining industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 21.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate Cliffs Natural Resources a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and five rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Cliffs Natural Resources as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, attractive valuation levels and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full Cliffs Natural Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Great Northern Iron Ore (GNI), down 9.4%, Atlatsa Resources (ATL), down 8.7%, Quaterra Resources (QMM), down 5.6%, and Platinum Group Metal (PLG), down 5.6%, were all losers within the metals & mining industry with Yamana Gold (AUY) being today's metals & mining industry loser.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the metals & mining industry could consider SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) while those bearish on the metals & mining industry could consider PowerShares DB Base Metals Sht ETN (BOS).

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For more information on Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. click any of the following:

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Stock Price

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• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Earnings

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Growth Rates

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Balance Sheet

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Cash Flow

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Income Statement