American Capital Agency Corp. Stock Hold Recommendation Reiterated (AGNC)

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) -- American Capital Agency (Nasdaq:AGNC) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a hold with a ratings score of C . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, reasonable valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, unimpressive growth in net income and disappointing return on equity.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• AGNC's very impressive revenue growth greatly exceeded the industry average of 18.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues leaped by 156.8%. 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.
• AGNC's share price has surged by 32.53% 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, our hold rating indicates that we do not recommend additional investment in this stock despite its gains in the past year.
• 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 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 246.8% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $177.82 million to -$261.00 million.
• The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. When compared to other companies in the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry and the overall market, AMERICAN CAPITAL AGENCY CORP's return on equity is below that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

American Capital Agency Corp. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The company has a P/E ratio of 9.8, above the average real estate industry P/E ratio of 8.8 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. American Capital Agency has a market cap of $12 billion and is part of the financial sector and real estate industry. Shares are up 24.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

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

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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