F5 Networks Inc. (FFIV): Today's Featured Computer Software & Services 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.

F5 Networks (FFIV) pushed the Computer Software & Services industry lower today making it today's featured Computer Software & Services laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.1%. By the end of trading, F5 Networks fell $3.64 (-3.6%) to $96.63 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.8 million shares of F5 Networks exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.9 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $96.45-$100.44 after having opened the day at $99.84 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $100.27. Other companies within the Computer Software & Services industry that declined today were: Intelligent Systems (INS), down 13%, ServiceNow (NOW), down 5.9%, Wave Systems Corporation (WAVX), down 5.6%, and Commtouch Software (CTCH), down 5.2%.

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F5 Networks, Inc. provides application delivery networking technology that optimizes the delivery of network-based applications, and the security, performance, and availability of servers, data storage devices, and other network resources in the Americas, EMEA, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. F5 Networks has a market cap of $7.83 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 28.9, equal to the average computer software & services industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 6.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 18 analysts that rate F5 Networks a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 11 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates F5 Networks as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

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For more information on F5 Networks Inc. click any of the following:

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• F5 Networks Inc. Income Statement