Seagate Technology PLC (STX): Today's Featured Computer Hardware 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.

Seagate Technology (STX) pushed the Computer Hardware industry higher today making it today's featured computer hardware winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.8%. By the end of trading, Seagate Technology rose 40 cents (1.3%) to $31.36 on average volume. Throughout the day, 10.9 million shares of Seagate Technology exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 12 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $30.41-$31.43 after having opened the day at $30.58 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $30.96. Other companies within the Computer Hardware industry that increased today were: Identive Group (INVE), up 9.9%, Video Display Corporation (VIDE), up 7.3%, Dataram Corporation (DRAM), up 6.7%, and Radisys Corporation (RSYS), up 4.3%.

• ACTIVE STOCK TRADERS: Get full access to Jim Cramer's thoughts for less than $3/week - sometimes before he says them on TV! Start with a 14-Day Free Trial.

Seagate Technology Public Limited Company designs, manufactures, markets, and sells hard disk drives for enterprise storage, client compute, and client non-compute market applications worldwide. Seagate Technology has a market cap of $11.77 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 4.6, equal to the average computer hardware industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 83.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are five analysts that rate Seagate Technology a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Seagate Technology as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and notable return on equity. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

• You can view the full Seagate Technology Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Universal Display Corporation (PANL), down 7.1%, MTS Medication Technologies (MTSI), down 6.4%, Finisar Corporation (FNSR), down 6.2%, and Interphase (INPH), down 5.7%, were all laggards within the computer hardware industry with NetApp (NTAP) being today's computer hardware industry laggard.

• Use our computer hardware 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 computer hardware industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Technology (IYW) while those bearish on the computer hardware industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Semiconductor (SSG).

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

FREE from Real Money's Jim Cramer: Winners and Losers Election 2012 - Steps to take NOW so you can profit no matter who is in charge! Free download now.

For more information on Seagate Technology PLC click any of the following:

• Seagate Technology PLC Stock Price

• Seagate Technology PLC Analyst Ratings

• Seagate Technology PLC Key Stats & Profile

• Seagate Technology PLC Earnings

• Seagate Technology PLC Ratio Comparison

• Seagate Technology PLC Growth Rates

• Seagate Technology PLC Balance Sheet

• Seagate Technology PLC Cash Flow

• Seagate Technology PLC Income Statement