Iamgold Corp Stock Downgraded (IAG)

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) -- Iamgold (NYSE:IAG) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, increase in net income and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including weak operating cash flow, a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself and disappointing return on equity.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• IAMGOLD CORP reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past two years. During the past fiscal year, IAMGOLD CORP increased its bottom line by earning $1.03 versus $0.76 in the prior year.
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Metals & Mining industry. The net income increased by 91.4% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $40.75 million to $78.00 million.
• Despite the weak revenue results, IAG has outperformed against the industry average of 21.8%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues fell by 10.4%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share.
• IAG's stock share price has done very poorly compared to where it was a year ago: Despite any rallies, the net result is that it is down by 34.86%, which is also worse that the performance of the S&P 500 Index. Investors have so far failed to pay much attention to the earnings improvements the company has managed to achieve over the last quarter. 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.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $98.70 million or 38.32% 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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IAMGOLD Corporation, a mid-tier gold mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties. It primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, copper, niobium, diamonds, and other metals. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.7, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Iamgold has a market cap of $4.5 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and metals & mining industry. Shares are down 24.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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