Dow Today: Intel (INTC) Leads The Day Higher, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Lags

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.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) is trading up 31 points (+0.2%) at 12,996 as of Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012, 9:35 a.m. ET. During this time, 19.6 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands vs. an average daily trading volume of 628 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,517 issues advancing vs. 1,116 declining with 172 unchanged.

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The Dow component leading the way higher looks to be Intel (Nasdaq:INTC), which is sporting a 19-cent gain (+1%) bringing the stock to $19.73. This single gain is lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 1.44 points or roughly accounting for 4.6% of the Dow's overall gain. Volume for Intel currently sits at 2.1 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 52.6 million shares.

Intel has a market cap of $97.36 billion and is part of the technology sector and electronics industry. Shares are down 19.4% year to date as of Monday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 4.6%.

Intel Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells integrated digital technology platforms primarily in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and Japan. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.5, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Intel as a 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, attractive valuation levels, expanding profit margins and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Intel Ratings Report.

Holding back the Dow today is McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD), which is lagging the broader Dow index with a 44-cent decline (-0.5%) bringing the stock to $86.62. Volume for McDonald's Corporation currently sits at 232,461 shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of six million shares.

• See our dividend calendar or top-yielding stocks list.

McDonald's Corporation has a market cap of $87.39 billion and is part of the services sector and leisure industry. Shares are down 13.2% year to date as of Monday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 3.5%.

McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates McDonald's restaurants in the global restaurant industry. Its restaurants offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. The company operates approximately 34,000 restaurants in 120 countries around the world. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.4, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates McDonald's Corporation as a 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, expanding profit margins and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full McDonald's Ratings Report.

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