Polypore International Inc. Stock Downgraded (PPO)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Polypore International (NYSE:PPO) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins and reasonable valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, unimpressive growth in net income and weak operating cash flow.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 10.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 5.4%. Weakness in the company's revenue seems to have hurt the bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• 45.30% is the gross profit margin for POLYPORE INTERNATIONAL INC which we consider to be strong. Regardless of PPO's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, PPO's net profit margin of 11.00% compares favorably to the industry average.
• Despite any intermediate fluctuations, we have only bad news to report on this stock's performance over the last year: it has tumbled by 52.88%, worse than the S&P 500's performance. Consistent with the plunge in the stock price, the company's earnings per share are down 31.74% compared to the year-earlier quarter. Although its share price is down sharply from a year ago, do not assume that it can now be tagged as cheap and attractive. The reality is that, based on its current price in relation to its earnings, PPO is still more expensive than most of the other companies in its industry.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $16.58 million or 47.88% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing the cash generation rate to the industry average, the firm's growth is significantly lower.

Polypore International, Inc., a technology filtration company, develops, manufactures, and markets specialized microporous membranes used in separation and filtration processes. It operates in two segments, Energy Storage and Separations Media. The company has a P/E ratio of 17.1, above the average industrial industry P/E ratio of 17 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Polypore International has a market cap of $1.5 billion and is part of the industrial goods sector and industrial industry. Shares are down 26.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

You can view the full Polypore International Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

For more information on Polypore International Inc. click any of the following:

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• Polypore International Inc. Earnings

• Polypore International Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Polypore International Inc. Growth Rates

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• Polypore International Inc. Cash Flow

• Polypore International Inc. Income Statement