Alkermes PLC Stock Downgraded (ALKS)

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) -- Alkermes (Nasdaq:ALKS) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and solid stock price performance. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company's return on equity has been disappointing.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• ALKS's very impressive revenue growth greatly exceeded the industry average of 6.8%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues leaped by 72.2%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• The current debt-to-equity ratio, 0.42, is low and is below the industry average, implying that there has been successful management of debt levels. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 4.39, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
• ALKERMES PLC has improved earnings per share by 40.9% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, ALKERMES PLC reported poor results of -$0.96 versus -$0.48 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.94 versus -$0.96).
• The company, on the basis of net income growth from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed compared to the Biotechnology industry average, but is greater than that of the S&P 500. The net income increased by 24.9% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, going from -$22.26 million to -$16.71 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. Compared to other companies in the Biotechnology industry and the overall market, ALKERMES PLC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

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Alkermes Public Limited Company, an integrated biopharmaceutical company, develops medicines that enhance patient outcomes. The company has a P/E ratio of -33.2, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Alkermes has a market cap of $2.54 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. Shares are up 30.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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