Lloyds Banking Group PLC Stock Upgraded (LYG)

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) -- Lloyds Banking Group (NYSE:LYG) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance and increase in net income. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the growth in the company's earnings per share has not been good.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• LYG's very impressive revenue growth greatly exceeded the industry average of 18.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues leaped by 157.4%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displaying stagnant earnings per share.
• Compared to its closing price of one year ago, LYG's share price has jumped by 49.45%, exceeding the performance of the broader market during that same time frame. 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.
• 46.90% is the gross profit margin for LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC which we consider to be strong. It has increased significantly from the same period last year. Regardless of the strong results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of -4.60% is in-line with the industry average.
• LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC reported flat earnings per share in the most recent quarter. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. However, the consensus estimate suggests that this trend should reverse in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC reported poor results of -$0.26 versus -$0.03 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.17 versus -$0.26).
• Current return on equity exceeded its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of strength within the company. Compared to other companies in the Commercial Banks industry and the overall market, LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

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Lloyds Banking Group plc provides banking and financial services to personal and corporate customers primarily in the United Kingdom. The company's Retail division provides banking, mortgages, and other financial services to personal customers. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Lloyds Banking Group has a market cap of $48.51 billion and is part of the financial sector and banking industry. Shares are up 76.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

You can view the full Lloyds Banking Group 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.

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