Research In Motion Ltd Stock Sell Recommendation Reiterated (RIMM)

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) -- Research in Motion (Nasdaq:RIMM) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a sell with a ratings score of D+ . The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its feeble growth in its earnings per share, 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:

• RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD 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. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. During the past fiscal year, RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD reported lower earnings of $2.23 versus $6.36 in the prior year.
• 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 Communications Equipment industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 171.4% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $329.00 million to -$235.00 million.
• 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 Communications Equipment industry and the overall market, RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD'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 54.06%, worse than the S&P 500's performance. Consistent with the plunge in the stock price, the company's earnings per share are down 171.42% 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.
• 40.10% is the gross profit margin for RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD which we consider to be strong. Regardless of RIMM's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, RIMM's net profit margin of -8.20% significantly underperformed when compared to the industry average.

Research In Motion Limited designs, manufactures, and markets wireless solutions for the mobile communications market worldwide. Research in Motion has a market cap of $4.54 billion and is part of the technology sector and telecommunications industry. The company has a P/E ratio of -7.5, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 39.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

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

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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