GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK): Today's Featured Drugs 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.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) pushed the Drugs industry higher today making it today's featured drugs winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, GlaxoSmithKline rose 68 cents (1.5%) to $46.58 on light volume. Throughout the day, 1.6 million shares of GlaxoSmithKline exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.2 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $46.45-$46.72 after having opened the day at $46.59 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $45.90. Other companies within the Drugs industry that increased today were: Biosante Pharmaceuticals (BPAX), up 22.2%, Rosetta Genomics (ROSG), up 17.4%, Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ), up 14.9%, and Neuralstem (CUR), up 13.9%.

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GlaxoSmithKline plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, over the counter (OTC) medicines, and health-related consumer products worldwide. GlaxoSmithKline has a market cap of $117.9 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.1, below the average drugs industry P/E ratio of 14.4 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 0.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are three analysts that rate GlaxoSmithKline a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates GlaxoSmithKline as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, notable return on equity, good cash flow from operations and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated.

• You can view the full GlaxoSmithKline Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Threshold Pharmaceuticals (THLD), down 19.7%, Targacept (TRGT), down 11.1%, Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company (AXN), down 9%, and Galectin Therapeutics (GALT), down 8.5%, were all laggards within the drugs industry with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA) being today's drugs industry laggard.

• Use our drugs 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 drugs industry could consider SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) while those bearish on the drugs industry could consider ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotech (BIS).

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

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