Varian Medical Systems Inc. (VAR): Today's Featured Health Care Laggard

Editor's Note: 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.

Varian Medical Systems (VAR) pushed the Health Care sector lower today making it today's featured Health Care laggard. The sector as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Varian Medical Systems fell $1.09 (-1.8%) to $58.59 on average volume. Throughout the day, one million shares of Varian Medical Systems exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.1 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $58.56-$59.67 after having opened the day at $59.65 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $59.68. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were: Biosante Pharmaceuticals (BPAX), down 13.6%, American Caresource Holdings (ANCI), down 13%, Tengion (TNGN), down 12.2%, and Angeion Corporation (ANGN), down 11.1%.

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Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services equipment and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and brachytherapy worldwide. Varian Medical Systems has a market cap of $6.51 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.2, below the average health services industry P/E ratio of 16.5 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 11.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Varian Medical Systems a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Varian Medical Systems as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. 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 Varian Medical Systems Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Hemispherx Biopharma (HEB), up 20.5%, Neostem (NBS), up 13.2%, Arrhythmia Research Technology (HRT), up 12.4%, and TrovaGene (TROV), up 10.9%, were all gainers within the health care sector with Boston Scientific (BSX) being today's featured health care sector leader.

• Use our health care section to find sector-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 health care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

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

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For more information on Varian Medical Systems Inc. click any of the following:

• Varian Medical Systems Inc. Stock Price

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• Varian Medical Systems Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Varian Medical Systems Inc. Growth Rates

• Varian Medical Systems Inc. Balance Sheet

• Varian Medical Systems Inc. Cash Flow

• Varian Medical Systems Inc. Income Statement