Citizens Inc. Stock Upgraded (CIA)

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) -- Citizens (NYSE:CIA) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, reasonable valuation levels, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Looking at where the stock is today compared to one year ago, we find that it is not only higher, but it has also clearly outperformed the rise in the S&P 500 over the same period. Although other factors naturally played a role, the company's strong earnings growth was key. Turning our attention to the future direction of the stock, it goes without saying that even the best stocks can fall in an overall down market. However, in any other environment, this stock still has good upside potential despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year.
• CIA's revenue growth trails the industry average of 21.6%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 8.0%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• CIA has no debt to speak of therefore resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, which we consider to be a relatively favorable sign.
• Net operating cash flow has increased to $17.44 million or 12.41% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, CITIZENS INC has also modestly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 10.86%.

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Citizens, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides life and health insurance policies in the United States and internationally. It primarily offers whole life insurance, endowments, credit insurance, final expense, and limited liability property policies. The company has a P/E ratio of 67.4, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Citizens has a market cap of $463.3 million and is part of the financial sector and insurance industry. Shares are down 1.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full Citizens 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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For more information on Citizens Inc. click any of the following:

• Citizens Inc. Stock Price

• Citizens Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Citizens Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Citizens Inc. Earnings

• Citizens Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Citizens Inc. Growth Rates

• Citizens Inc. Balance Sheet

• Citizens Inc. Cash Flow

• Citizens Inc. Income Statement