Bank Of America Corporation (BAC): Today's Featured Financial Winner

Bank of America Corporation (BAC) pushed the Financial sector higher today making it today's featured financial winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, Bank of America Corporation rose 10 cents (1.3%) to $7.16 on light volume. Throughout the day, 116 million shares of Bank of America Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 178.1 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $7.11-$7.24 after having opened the day at $7.22 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $7.07. Other companies within the Financial sector that increased today were: MPG Office (MPG), up 26.9%, First Financial Service Corporation (FFKY), up 21.1%, Plumas Bancorp (PLBC), up 16.5%, and Stewart Information Services (STC), up 16.1%.

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Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services to individual consumers, small-and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, corporations, and governments in the United States and internationally. Bank of America Corporation has a market cap of $75.87 billion and is part of the banking industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 5.5, below the average banking industry P/E ratio of 7.5 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 27.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Bank of America Corporation a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and 15 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Bank of America Corporation as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including generally poor debt management and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Bank of America Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Cash America International (CSH), down 18.7%, United Community Banks (UCBI), down 15%, Colony Bankcorp (CBAN), down 13.4%, and Central Federal (CFBK), down 11.6%, were all laggards within the financial sector with Essex Property (ESS) being today's financial sector laggard.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the financial sector could consider Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) while those bearish on the financial sector could consider Proshares Short Financials (SEF).

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

For more information on Bank of America Corporation click any of the following:

• Bank of America Corporation Stock Price

• Bank of America Corporation Analyst Ratings

• Bank of America Corporation Key Stats & Profile

• Bank of America Corporation Earnings

• Bank of America Corporation Ratio Comparison

• Bank of America Corporation Growth Rates

• Bank of America Corporation Balance Sheet

• Bank of America Corporation Cash Flow

• Bank of America Corporation Income Statement