Synutra International Inc. Stock Downgraded (SYUT)

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) -- Synutra International (Nasdaq:SYUT) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, generally high debt management risk, disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Personal Products industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 618.3% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $8.53 million to -$44.19 million.
• The debt-to-equity ratio is very high at 8.09 and currently higher than the industry average, implying increased risk associated with the management of debt levels within the company. To add to this, SYUT has a quick ratio of 0.64, this demonstrates the lack of ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
• Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Personal Products industry and the overall market, SYNUTRA INTERNATIONAL INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
• The gross profit margin for SYNUTRA INTERNATIONAL INC is currently lower than what is desirable, coming in at 26.40%. It has decreased significantly from the same period last year. Along with this, the net profit margin of -66.80% is significantly below that of the industry average.
• Despite any intermediate fluctuations, we have only bad news to report on this stock's performance over the last year: it has tumbled by 41.78%, worse than the S&P 500's performance. Consistent with the plunge in the stock price, the company's earnings per share are down 613.33% compared to the year-earlier quarter. Naturally, the overall market trend is bound to be a significant factor. However, in one sense, the stock's sharp decline last year is a positive for future investors, making it cheaper (in proportion to its earnings over the past year) than most other stocks in its industry. But due to other concerns, we feel the stock is still not a good buy right now.

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Synutra International, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and distribution of dairy based nutritional products primarily under the Shengyuan or Synutra name in the People's Republic of China. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Synutra International has a market cap of $228.6 million and is part of the consumer goods sector and food & beverage industry. Shares are down 21.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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