Micrel Inc. Stock Downgraded (MCRL)

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) -- Micrel (Nasdaq:MCRL) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. 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 expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and deteriorating net income.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• MCRL has no debt to speak of therefore resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, which we consider to be a relatively favorable sign. To add to this, MCRL has a quick ratio of 2.47, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 4.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 2.0%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• The gross profit margin for MICREL INC is rather high; currently it is at 58.10%. Regardless of MCRL's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, MCRL's net profit margin of 7.40% is significantly lower than the same period one year prior.
• MICREL INC's earnings per share declined by 46.7% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. Earnings per share have declined over the last year. We anticipate that this should continue in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, MICREL INC reported lower earnings of $0.54 versus $0.82 in the prior year. For the next year, the market is expecting a contraction of 40.7% in earnings ($0.32 versus $0.54).
• 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 Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 49.1% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $9.21 million to $4.69 million.

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Micrel, Incorporated, doing business as Micrel Semiconductor, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of analog power, mixed-signal, and digital integrated circuits (ICs) primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company has a P/E ratio of 26, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Micrel has a market cap of $542.6 million and is part of the technology sector and electronics industry. Shares are down 7.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

You can view the full Micrel 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 Micrel Inc. click any of the following:

• Micrel Inc. Stock Price

• Micrel Inc. Analyst Ratings

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• Micrel Inc. Earnings

• Micrel Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Micrel Inc. Growth Rates

• Micrel Inc. Balance Sheet

• Micrel Inc. Cash Flow

• Micrel Inc. Income Statement