National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NOV): Today's Featured Basic Materials Winner

National Oilwell Varco (NOV) pushed the Basic Materials sector higher today making it today's featured basic materials winner. The sector as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, National Oilwell Varco rose 94 cents (1.4%) to $68.60 on light volume. Throughout the day, 3.2 million shares of National Oilwell Varco exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.5 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $67.16-$69.27 after having opened the day at $67.24 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $67.66. Other companies within the Basic Materials sector that increased today were: BioFuel Energy Corporation (BIOF), up 17.7%, Pacific Ethanol (PEIX), up 12.1%, International Tower Hill Mines (THM), up 9.4%, and Lizhan Environmental (LZEN), up 8.3%.

• ACTIVE STOCK TRADERS: Check out TheStreet's special offer for Real Money, headlined by Jim Cramer, now!

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. designs, constructs, manufactures, and sells systems, components, and products for oil and gas drilling and production, as well as provides oilfield services and supplies, and supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry worldwide. National Oilwell Varco has a market cap of $28.49 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 13, equal to the average energy industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 1.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 16 analysts that rate National Oilwell Varco a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and one rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates National Oilwell Varco as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and attractive valuation levels. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full National Oilwell Varco Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Andatee China Marine Fuel Services Corporat (AMCF), down 14.7%, Cubic Energy (QBC), down 10.5%, Alpha Natural Resources (ANR), down 10.3%, and GeoGlobal Resources (GGR), down 9%, were all losers within the basic materials sector with Gerdau (GGB) being today's basic materials sector loser.

• Use our basic materials 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 basic materials sector could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the basic materials sector could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

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

For more information on National Oilwell Varco Inc. click any of the following:

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Stock Price

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Analyst Ratings

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Earnings

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Ratio Comparison

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Growth Rates

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Balance Sheet

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Cash Flow

• National Oilwell Varco Inc. Income Statement