Pegasystems Inc. Stock Downgraded (PEGA)

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) -- Pegasystems (Nasdaq:PEGA) 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, disappointing return on equity 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 Software industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 106.7% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $4.96 million to -$0.33 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 Software industry and the overall market, PEGASYSTEMS INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
• Despite any intermediate fluctuations, we have only bad news to report on this stock's performance over the last year: it has tumbled by 30.91%, worse than the S&P 500's performance. Consistent with the plunge in the stock price, the company's earnings per share are down 107.69% compared to the year-earlier quarter. Turning toward the future, the fact that the stock has come down in price over the past year should not necessarily be interpreted as a negative; it could be one of the factors that may help make the stock attractive down the road. Right now, however, we believe that it is too soon to buy.
• PEGASYSTEMS INC has exprienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from 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, PEGASYSTEMS INC turned its bottom line around by earning $0.26 versus -$0.17 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.78 versus $0.26).
• The gross profit margin for PEGASYSTEMS INC is rather high; currently it is at 67.00%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Regardless of the strong results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of -0.30% is in-line with the industry average.

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Pegasystems Inc. develops, markets, licenses, and supports software to automate business processes primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, and rest of Europe. The company has a P/E ratio of -2180, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Pegasystems has a market cap of $826 million and is part of the technology sector and computer software & services industry. Shares are down 25.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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