Epocrates Inc. Stock Upgraded (EPOC)

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) -- Epocrates (Nasdaq:EPOC) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. 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.

• 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.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• EPOC has no debt to speak of therefore resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, which we consider to be a relatively favorable sign. To add to this, EPOC has a quick ratio of 1.91, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 139.18% to $0.66 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, EPOCRATES INC has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 46.05%.
• EPOC's share price has surged by 25.29% over the past year, reflecting the market's general trend, despite their weak earnings growth during the last quarter. Although EPOC had significant growth over the past year, our hold rating indicates that we do not recommend additional investment in this stock at the current time.
• 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 Technology industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 111.8% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $3.39 million to -$0.40 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 Technology industry and the overall market, EPOCRATES INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

.

Epocrates, Inc. provides subscriptions for mobile drug reference tools and electronic health records to healthcare professionals, and interactive services to the healthcare industry. Epocrates has a market cap of $281.4 million and is part of the health care sector and health services industry. Shares are up 45.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Epocrates 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.

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 Epocrates Inc. click any of the following:

• Epocrates Inc. Stock Price

• Epocrates Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Epocrates Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Epocrates Inc. Earnings

• Epocrates Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Epocrates Inc. Growth Rates

• Epocrates Inc. Balance Sheet

• Epocrates Inc. Cash Flow

• Epocrates Inc. Income Statement