Virco Manufacturing Corporation Stock Upgraded (VIRC)

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) -- Virco Manufacturing Corporation (Nasdaq:VIRC) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth and compelling growth in net income. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that revenues have generally been declining.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Powered by its strong earnings growth of 157.89% and other important driving factors, this stock has surged by 34.78% over the past year, outperforming the rise in the S&P 500 Index during the same period. Regarding the stock's future course, our hold rating indicates that we do not recommend additional investment in this stock despite its gains in the past year.
• VIRCO MFG. CORP reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past year. We feel that this trend should continue. This trend suggests that the performance of the business is improving. During the past fiscal year, VIRCO MFG. CORP continued to lose money by earning -$0.97 versus -$1.25 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings (-$0.08 versus -$0.97).
• Net operating cash flow has increased to -$6.61 million or 11.99% when compared to the same quarter last year. Despite an increase in cash flow, VIRCO MFG. CORP's cash flow growth rate is still lower than the industry average growth rate of 23.76%.
• VIRC, with its decline in revenue, slightly underperformed the industry average of 1.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 3.9%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share.
• The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry and the overall market, VIRCO MFG. CORP's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

Virco Mfg. Corporation engages in the design, production, and distribution of furniture for the commercial and education markets in the United States. Virco has a market cap of $39.6 million and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer durables industry. Shares are up 81.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full Virco 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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