Titanium Metals Corporation Stock Upgraded (TIE)

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) -- Titanium Metals Corporation (NYSE:TIE) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• TIE's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.09 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.06, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• Compared to where it was a year ago today, the stock is now trading at a higher level, regardless of the company's weak earnings results. Looking ahead, unless broad bear market conditions prevail, we still see more upside potential for this stock, despite the fact that it has already risen over the past year.
• Despite the weak revenue results, TIE has outperformed against the industry average of 21.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 1.8%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• The change in net income from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the Metals & Mining industry average, but is less than that of the S&P 500. The net income has significantly decreased by 26.0% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $25.00 million to $18.50 million.
• TITANIUM METALS CORP's earnings per share declined by 21.4% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. We feel it is likely to report a decline in earnings in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, TITANIUM METALS CORP increased its bottom line by earning $0.64 versus $0.45 in the prior year. For the next year, the market is expecting a contraction of 7.8% in earnings ($0.59 versus $0.64).

.

Titanium Metals Corporation produces and sells titanium melted and mill products. The company has a P/E ratio of 23.7, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Titanium has a market cap of $2.9 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and metals & mining industry. Shares are up 10.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

You can view the full Titanium 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.

FREE for a limited time only: Get TheStreet Ratings #1 Stock Report NOW!.

For more information on Titanium Metals Corporation click any of the following:

• Titanium Metals Corporation Stock Price

• Titanium Metals Corporation Analyst Ratings

• Titanium Metals Corporation Key Stats & Profile

• Titanium Metals Corporation Earnings

• Titanium Metals Corporation Ratio Comparison

• Titanium Metals Corporation Growth Rates

• Titanium Metals Corporation Balance Sheet

• Titanium Metals Corporation Cash Flow

• Titanium Metals Corporation Income Statement