Fisher Communications Inc. Stock Downgraded (FSCI)

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) -- Fisher Communications (Nasdaq:FSCI) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity and reasonable valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the stock has had a generally disappointing performance in the past year.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• FSCI's revenue growth trails the industry average of 15.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 0.5%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Media industry and the overall market, FISHER COMMUNICATIONS INC's return on equity significantly exceeds that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
• The gross profit margin for FISHER COMMUNICATIONS INC is rather high; currently it is at 52.70%. 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 5.50% trails the industry average.
• The company, on the basis of net income growth from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed compared to the Media industry average, but is greater than that of the S&P 500. The net income increased by 52.4% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $1.44 million to $2.20 million.
• FSCI has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, declining 12.45% from its price level of one year ago. 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.

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Fisher Communications, Inc., an integrated media company, engages in television and radio broadcasting businesses. The company has a P/E ratio of 6.1, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Fisher has a market cap of $225.9 million and is part of the services sector and media industry. Shares are down 11.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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For more information on Fisher Communications Inc. click any of the following:

• Fisher Communications Inc. Stock Price

• Fisher Communications Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Fisher Communications Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Fisher Communications Inc. Earnings

• Fisher Communications Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Fisher Communications Inc. Growth Rates

• Fisher Communications Inc. Balance Sheet

• Fisher Communications Inc. Cash Flow

• Fisher Communications Inc. Income Statement