Staples Inc. (SPLS): Today's Featured Specialty Retail Winner

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.

Staples (SPLS) pushed the Specialty Retail industry higher today making it today's featured specialty retail winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.9%. By the end of trading, Staples rose 25 cents (2.1%) to $12.21 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 37.8 million shares of Staples exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 12.5 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $12.16-$12.70 after having opened the day at $12.51 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $11.96. Other companies within the Specialty Retail industry that increased today were: Hollywood Media Corporation (HOLL), up 15.7%, OfficeMax (OMX), up 14.6%, Lentuo International (LAS), up 7.5%, and Five Below (FIVE), up 6.1%.

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Staples, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an office products company. The company offers various office supplies and services, office machines and related products, computers and related products, and office furniture under Staples, Quill, and other proprietary brands. Staples has a market cap of $7.87 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.7, equal to the average specialty retail industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 13.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are six analysts that rate Staples a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and eight rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Staples as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its attractive valuation levels, good cash flow from operations and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, poor profit margins and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Staples Ratings Report.

• Use our specialty retail section to find industry-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 specialty retail industry could consider SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) while those bearish on the specialty retail industry could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods (SZK).

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

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

• Staples Inc. Stock Price

• Staples Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Staples Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Staples Inc. Earnings

• Staples Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Staples Inc. Growth Rates

• Staples Inc. Balance Sheet

• Staples Inc. Cash Flow

• Staples Inc. Income Statement