Guess Inc. Stock Downgraded (GES)

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

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Guess (NYSE:GES) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, reasonable valuation levels and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and weak operating cash flow.

• ACTIVE STOCK TRADERS: Check out TheStreet's special offer for Real Money, headlined by Jim Cramer, now!

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• GES's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.01 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. To add to this, GES has a quick ratio of 1.59, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
• 40.70% is the gross profit margin for GUESS INC which we consider to be strong. Regardless of GES'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 7.10% trails the industry average.
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Specialty Retail industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 29.3% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $60.66 million to $42.90 million.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $8.00 million or 80.26% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.

Guess , Inc. designs, markets, distributes, and licenses lifestyle collections of contemporary apparel and accessories for men, women, and children that reflect the American lifestyle and European fashion sensibilities. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.1, above the average retail industry P/E ratio of 10.3 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Guess has a market cap of $2.34 billion and is part of the services sector and retail industry. Shares are down 12% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

FREE from Real Money's Jim Cramer: Winners and Losers Election 2012 - Steps to take NOW so you can profit no matter who is in charge! Free download now.

For more information on Guess? Inc click any of the following:

• Guess? Inc Stock Price

• Guess? Inc Analyst Ratings

• Guess? Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Guess? Inc Earnings

• Guess? Inc Ratio Comparison

• Guess? Inc Growth Rates

• Guess? Inc Balance Sheet

• Guess? Inc Cash Flow

• Guess? Inc Income Statement