F5 Networks Inc. (FFIV): Today's Featured Technology Leader

F5 Networks (FFIV) pushed the Technology sector higher today making it today's featured technology leader. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.3%. By the end of trading, F5 Networks rose $4.16 (4.2%) to $102.75 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 6.5 million shares of F5 Networks exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.8 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $93.20-$103.13 after having opened the day at $94.94 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $98.59. Other companies within the Technology sector that increased today were: Mellanox Technologies (MLNX), up 41.5%, OCZ Technology Group (OCZ), up 23%, Rovi (ROVI), up 15.9%, and Calix (CALX), up 15%.

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F5 Networks, Inc. provides application delivery networking technology that optimizes the delivery of network-based applications, and the security, performance, and availability of servers, data storage devices, and other network resources in the Americas, EMEA, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. F5 Networks has a market cap of $7.29 billion and is part of the computer software & services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 27.9, equal to the average computer software & services industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 7.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 19 analysts that rate F5 Networks a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates F5 Networks 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, notable return on equity, impressive record of earnings per share growth and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full F5 Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Mitek Systems (MITK), down 19.5%, Synacor (SYNC), down 13.2%, Sypris Solutions (SYPR), down 12.7%, and SatCon Technology Corporation (SATC), down 12.6%, were all laggards within the technology sector with Telefonica Brasil S.A (VIV) being today's technology sector laggard.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the technology sector could consider Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) while those bearish on the technology sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Technology (REW).

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For more information on F5 Networks Inc. click any of the following:

• F5 Networks Inc. Stock Price

• F5 Networks Inc. Analyst Ratings

• F5 Networks Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• F5 Networks Inc. Earnings

• F5 Networks Inc. Ratio Comparison

• F5 Networks Inc. Growth Rates

• F5 Networks Inc. Balance Sheet

• F5 Networks Inc. Cash Flow

• F5 Networks Inc. Income Statement