Astoria Financial Corporation Stock Downgraded (AF)

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) -- Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE:AF) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, attractive valuation levels and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and feeble growth in the company's earnings per share.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The stock has not only risen over the past year, it has done so at a faster pace than the S&P 500, reflecting the earnings growth and other positive factors similar to those we have cited here. Despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year, there is currently no conclusive evidence that warrants the purchase or sale of this stock.
• The gross profit margin for ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORP is rather high; currently it is at 56.40%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Despite the strong results of the gross profit margin, AF's net profit margin of 8.10% significantly trails the industry average.
• 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 Thrifts & Mortgage Finance industry and the overall market on the basis of return on equity, ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORP underperformed against that of the industry average and is significantly less than that of the S&P 500.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $46.93 million or 54.14% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.

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Astoria Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association that provides various banking and financial products and services in the United States. It engages in generating deposits and originating loans. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.2, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Astoria Financial has a market cap of $893.7 million and is part of the financial sector and banking industry. Shares are up 5.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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