Rackspace Hosting Inc. (RAX): Today's Featured Internet Laggard

Rackspace Hosting (RAX) pushed the Internet industry lower today making it today's featured Internet laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.9%. By the end of trading, Rackspace Hosting fell $1.25 (-2.8%) to $43.89 on light volume. Throughout the day, 1.4 million shares of Rackspace Hosting exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.6 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $43.73-$44.61 after having opened the day at $44.56 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $45.14. Other company's within the Internet industry that declined today were: Synacor (SYNC), down 13.6%, VirnetX (VHC), down 9.1%, HealthStream (HSTM), down 7.6%, and SouFun Holdings (SFUN), down 5.6%.

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Rackspace Hosting, Inc. provides cloud computing services, managing Web-based IT systems for small and medium-sized businesses, and large enterprises worldwide. Rackspace Hosting has a market cap of $5.82 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 69.5, 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 up 5% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Rackspace Hosting a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Rackspace Hosting 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 expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full Rackspace Hosting Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Selectica (SLTC), up 9.4%, ChinaCache International Holdings (CCIH), up 9.3%, TheStreet (TST), up 5.5%, and Zynga Inc Class A (ZNGA), up 5.4%, were all gainers within the internet industry with Yahoo (YHOO) being today's featured internet industry leader.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the internet industry could consider First Trust Dow Jones Internet Idx (FDN) while those bearish on the internet industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Technology (REW).

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For more information on Rackspace Hosting Inc. click any of the following:

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Stock Price

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Earnings

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Growth Rates

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Balance Sheet

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Cash Flow

• Rackspace Hosting Inc. Income Statement