Ametek Inc. (AME): Today's Featured Industrial Goods Laggard

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.

Ametek (AME) pushed the Industrial Goods sector lower today making it today's featured Industrial Goods laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.5%. By the end of trading, Ametek fell 47 cents (-1.4%) to $34.11 on light volume. Throughout the day, 930,262 shares of Ametek exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.2 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $33.97-$34.49 after having opened the day at $34.44 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $34.58. Other companies within the Industrial Goods sector that declined today were: China Valves Technology (CVVT), down 18.4%, Ecotality (ECTY), down 9.4%, TMS International (TMS), down 8.5%, and LSB Industries (LXU), down 8%.

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AMETEK, Inc. manufactures and sells electronic instruments and electromechanical devices in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The company operates in two segments, Electronic Instruments Group and Electromechanical Group. Ametek has a market cap of $8.4 billion and is part of the industrial industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.9, below the average industrial industry P/E ratio of 21.8 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 23.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are eight analysts that rate Ametek a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Ametek as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value.

• You can view the full Ametek Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Wowjoint Holdings (BWOW), up 11.4%, eMagin Corporation (EMAN), up 11.2%, Altair Nanotechnologies (ALTI), up 8%, and Patrick Industries (PATK), up 5.6%, were all gainers within the industrial goods sector with TransDigm Group (TDG) being today's featured industrial goods sector leader.

• Use our industrial goods section to find sector-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 industrial goods sector could consider Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) while those bearish on the industrial goods sector could consider ProShares Short Dow 30 (DOG).

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

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For more information on Ametek Inc. click any of the following:

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• Ametek Inc. Growth Rates

• Ametek Inc. Balance Sheet

• Ametek Inc. Cash Flow

• Ametek Inc. Income Statement