Dow Today: Cisco Systems (CSCO) Leads The Day Higher, Merck (MRK) Lags

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) is unchanged at 13,075 as of Monday, Jul 30, 2012, 9:35 a.m. ET. During this time, 23.5 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands vs. an average daily trading volume of 684.7 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,349 issues advancing vs. 1,323 declining with 166 unchanged.

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The Dow component leading the way higher looks to be Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO), which is sporting a 16-cent gain (+1%) bringing the stock to $15.85. Volume for Cisco Systems currently sits at 1.5 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 44.6 million shares.

Cisco Systems has a market cap of $82.39 billion and is part of the technology sector and computer hardware industry. Shares are down 13.2% year to date as of Friday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 2.1%.

Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.3, equal to the average computer hardware industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Cisco Systems as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, attractive valuation levels, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Cisco Systems Ratings Report.

Holding back the Dow today is Merck (NYSE:MRK), which is lagging the broader Dow index with a 64-cent decline (-1.4%) bringing the stock to $44.45. Volume for Merck currently sits at 1.3 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 15.7 million shares.

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Merck has a market cap of $131.79 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. Shares are up 19.6% year to date as of Friday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 3.9%.

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.3, equal to the average drugs industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Merck as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, revenue growth and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

• You can view the full Merck Ratings Report.

 

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