JPMorgan Chase & Co Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (JPM)

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) -- JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of B- . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The gross profit margin for JPMORGAN CHASE & CO is currently very high, coming in at 87.40%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 19.70% is above that of the industry average.
• JPMORGAN CHASE & CO' earnings per share from the most recent quarter came in slightly below the year earlier quarter. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, JPMORGAN CHASE & CO increased its bottom line by earning $4.47 versus $3.96 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($4.70 versus $4.47).
• JPM's share price has surged by 27.42% over the past year, reflecting the market's general trend, despite their weak earnings growth during the last quarter. Regarding the stock's future course, although almost any stock can fall in a broad market decline, JPM should continue to move higher despite the fact that it has already enjoyed a very nice gain in the past year.
• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 19.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues fell by 17.8%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $41,983.00 million or 35.11% when compared to the same quarter last year. Despite a decrease in cash flow of 35.11%, JPMORGAN CHASE & CO is in line with the industry average cash flow growth rate of -38.97%.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., a financial holding company, provides various financial services worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.5, above the average banking industry P/E ratio of 9.3 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. JPMorgan Chase has a market cap of $157.27 billion and is part of the financial sector and banking industry. Shares are up 25% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

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

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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