Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT): Today's Featured Electronics Laggard

Applied Materials (AMAT) pushed the Electronics industry lower today making it today's featured Electronics laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 1.5%. By the end of trading, Applied Materials fell 11 cents (-1.1%) to $10.38 on light volume. Throughout the day, 9.9 million shares of Applied Materials exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 13.6 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $10.26-$10.50 after having opened the day at $10.46 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $10.49. Other company's within the Electronics industry that declined today were: Bruker Corporation (BRKR), down 13.7%, Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI), down 12.2%, Daystar Technologies (DSTI), down 11.9%, and Volterra Semiconductor Corporation (VLTR), down 11.6%.

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Applied Materials, Inc. provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, flat panel display, solar photovoltaic (PV), and related industries worldwide. Applied Materials has a market cap of $13.47 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 10.4, above the average electronics industry P/E ratio of 10.3 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 2.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Applied Materials a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.

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

• You can view the full Applied Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Oclaro (OCLR), up 13.4%, Sanmina-SCI (SANM), up 10.6%, ClearSign Combustion (CLIR), up 7.3%, and Qualstar Corporation (QBAK), up 7.2%, were all gainers within the electronics industry with Micron Technology (MU) being today's featured electronics industry leader.

• Use our electronics section to find industry-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 electronics industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Technology (IYW) while those bearish on the electronics industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Semiconductor (SSG).

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

For more information on Applied Materials Inc. click any of the following:

• Applied Materials Inc. Stock Price

• Applied Materials Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Applied Materials Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Applied Materials Inc. Earnings

• Applied Materials Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Applied Materials Inc. Growth Rates

• Applied Materials Inc. Balance Sheet

• Applied Materials Inc. Cash Flow

• Applied Materials Inc. Income Statement