W. R. Grace & Co. (GRA): Today's Featured Chemicals 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.

W. R. Grace (GRA) pushed the Chemicals industry lower today making it today's featured Chemicals laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.4%. By the end of trading, W. R. Grace fell 70 cents (-1.1%) to $63.76 on average volume. Throughout the day, 619,242 shares of W. R. Grace exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 696,300 shares. The stock ranged in price between $63.67-$64.67 after having opened the day at $64.42 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $64.46. Other companies within the Chemicals industry that declined today were: Gevo (GEVO), down 10.5%, Cereplast (CERP), down 8%, TOR Minerals International (TORM), down 7.5%, and Altair Nanotechnologies (ALTI), down 6.9%.

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W.R. Grace & Co. engages in the production and sale of specialty chemicals and materials worldwide. W. R. Grace has a market cap of $4.82 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.5, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 40.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are four analysts that rate W. R. Grace a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and none rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates W. R. Grace as a sell. Among the areas we feel are negative, one of the most important has been unimpressive growth in net income over time.

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On the positive front, Kronos Worldwide (KRO), up 8.6%, Tronox (TROX), up 6.8%, OM Group (OMG), up 6.7%, and American Pacific Corporation (APFC), up 4.5%, were all gainers within the chemicals industry with Albemarle (ALB) being today's featured chemicals industry leader.

• Use our chemicals section to find industry-relevant news.
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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the chemicals industry could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the chemicals industry could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

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

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