Synaptics Inc. Stock Downgraded (SYNA)

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) -- Synaptics (Nasdaq:SYNA) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy 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 and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

• 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:

• Although SYNA's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01 is very low, it is currently higher than that of the industry average. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 3.87, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
• 47.80% is the gross profit margin for SYNAPTICS INC which we consider to be strong. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Despite the strong results of the gross profit margin, SYNA's net profit margin of 8.90% significantly trails the industry average.
• SYNA, with its decline in revenue, underperformed when compared the industry average of 23.4%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 4.0%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $21.66 million or 14.12% when compared to the same quarter last year. In conjunction, when comparing current results to the industry average, SYNAPTICS INC has marginally lower results.
• Current return on equity is lower than its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of weakness within the company. In comparison to the other companies in the Computers & Peripherals industry and the overall market, SYNAPTICS INC's return on equity is significantly below that of the industry average and is below that of the S&P 500.

.

Synaptics Incorporated develops and supplies custom-designed human interface solutions that enable people to interact with various mobile computing, communications, entertainment, and other electronic devices in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and the United States. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.9, equal to the average computer hardware industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Synaptics has a market cap of $769 million and is part of the technology sector and computer hardware industry. Shares are down 23% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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 Synaptics Inc. click any of the following:

• Synaptics Inc. Stock Price

• Synaptics Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Synaptics Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Synaptics Inc. Earnings

• Synaptics Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Synaptics Inc. Growth Rates

• Synaptics Inc. Balance Sheet

• Synaptics Inc. Cash Flow

• Synaptics Inc. Income Statement