NuVasive Inc. Stock Upgraded (NUVA)

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) -- NuVasive (Nasdaq:NUVA) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, 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, disappointing return on equity and feeble growth in the company's earnings per share.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 5.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 16.1%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 97.86% to $26.02 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, NUVASIVE INC has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 13.60%.
• NUVA's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77 is somewhat low overall, but it is high when compared to the industry average, implying that the management of the debt levels should be evaluated further. Despite the fact that NUVA's debt-to-equity ratio is mixed in its results, the company's quick ratio of 1.74 is high and demonstrates strong liquidity.
• 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 Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 46.8% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $5.38 million to $2.86 million.
• Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry and the overall market, NUVASIVE INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

NuVasive, Inc., a medical device company, engages in the design, development, and marketing of minimally disruptive surgical products and procedures for the spine. The company's products focus on applications for spine fusion surgery. NuVasive has a market cap of $940.7 million and is part of the health care sector and health services industry. Shares are up 71.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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

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

• NuVasive Inc. Stock Price

• NuVasive Inc. Analyst Ratings

• NuVasive Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• NuVasive Inc. Earnings

• NuVasive Inc. Ratio Comparison

• NuVasive Inc. Growth Rates

• NuVasive Inc. Balance Sheet

• NuVasive Inc. Cash Flow

• NuVasive Inc. Income Statement