Total SA (TOT): Today's Featured Basic Materials Laggard

Total (TOT) pushed the Basic Materials sector lower today making it today's featured Basic Materials laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.7%. By the end of trading, Total fell 92 cents (-2%) to $44.10 on average volume. Throughout the day, 4.5 million shares of Total exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.2 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $43.83-$44.14 after having opened the day at $43.87 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $45.02. Other company's within the Basic Materials sector that declined today were: Gold Resource (GORO), down 30.6%, Lizhan Environmental (LZEN), down 18.2%, Universal Stainless & Alloy Products (USAP), down 13.6%, and Prospect Global Resources (PGRX), down 12.8%.

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TOTAL S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. Total has a market cap of $101.52 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 7.2, above the average energy industry P/E ratio of 6.4 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 11.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are five analysts that rate Total a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and one rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Total as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, attractive valuation levels and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, poor profit margins and weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full Total Ratings Report.

On the positive front, USEC (USU), up 11.1%, Whiting USA Trust I (WHX), up 10.8%, Baker Hughes (BHI), up 9.1%, and Synthesis Energy Sys (SYMX), up 8.4%, were all gainers within the basic materials sector with Weatherford International (WFT) being today's featured basic materials sector leader.

• 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 Total SA click any of the following:

• Total SA Stock Price

• Total SA Analyst Ratings

• Total SA Key Stats & Profile

• Total SA Earnings

• Total SA Ratio Comparison

• Total SA Growth Rates

• Total SA Balance Sheet

• Total SA Cash Flow

• Total SA Income Statement