Bottomline Technologies Inc. Stock Downgraded (EPAY)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Bottomline Technologies (Nasdaq:EPAY) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• EPAY's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 4.5%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 13.2%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
• 46.90% is the gross profit margin for BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES INC which we consider to be strong. Regardless of EPAY's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of -1.90% trails the industry average.
• BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES INC has exprienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. However, the consensus estimate suggests that this trend should reverse in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES INC reported lower earnings of $0.05 versus $1.04 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.92 versus $0.05).
• Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Software industry and the overall market, BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
• In its most recent trading session, EPAY has closed at a price level that was not very different from its closing price of one year earlier. This is probably due to its weak earnings growth as well as other mixed factors. Looking ahead, other than the push or pull of the broad market, we do not see anything in the company's numbers that may help reverse the decline experienced over the past 12 months. Despite the past decline, the stock is still selling for more than most others in its industry.

Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. provides electronic payment, invoice, and document automation solutions worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.8, equal to the average computer software & services industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Bottomline has a market cap of $739.7 million and is part of the technology sector and computer software & services industry. Shares are down 13.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Bottomline 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 Bottomline Technologies Inc. click any of the following:

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Stock Price

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Earnings

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Growth Rates

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Balance Sheet

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Cash Flow

• Bottomline Technologies Inc. Income Statement