Commercial Metals Company Stock Downgraded (CMC)

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) -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, compelling growth in net income and notable return on equity. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including poor profit margins, weak operating cash flow and generally higher debt management risk.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Compared to where it was a year ago today, the stock is now trading at a higher level, reflecting both the market's overall trend during that period and the fact that the company's earnings growth has been robust. Despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year, there is currently no conclusive evidence that warrants the purchase or sale of this stock.
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Metals & Mining industry. The net income increased by 125.1% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from -$120.27 million to $30.22 million.
• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 18.3%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues fell by 17.2%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $61.16 million or 14.83% when compared to the same quarter last year. Despite a decrease in cash flow COMMERCIAL METALS is still fairing well by exceeding its industry average cash flow growth rate of -29.71%.
• The gross profit margin for COMMERCIAL METALS is currently extremely low, coming in at 11.40%. Regardless of CMC's low profit margin, it has managed to increase from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, CMC's net profit margin of 1.60% is significantly lower than the same period one year prior.

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Commercial Metals Company engages in recycling, manufacturing, fabricating, and distributing steel and metal products, and related materials and services in the United States and internationally. The company has a P/E ratio of 48.7, above the average metals & mining industry P/E ratio of 29.4 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Commercial has a market cap of $1.64 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and metals & mining industry. Shares are up 2.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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For more information on Commercial Metals Company click any of the following:

• Commercial Metals Company Stock Price

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• Commercial Metals Company Growth Rates

• Commercial Metals Company Balance Sheet

• Commercial Metals Company Cash Flow

• Commercial Metals Company Income Statement