Brady Corporation Stock Upgraded (BRC)

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) -- Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC) 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, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The current debt-to-equity ratio, 0.31, is low and is below the industry average, implying that there has been successful management of debt levels. To add to this, BRC has a quick ratio of 1.98, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
• The gross profit margin for BRADY CORP is rather high; currently it is at 51.90%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 8.05% is above that of the industry average.
• Net operating cash flow has increased to $20.22 million or 32.30% when compared to the same quarter last year. The firm also exceeded the industry average cash flow growth rate of -1.15%.
• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 6.2%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 3.4%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• BRADY CORP's earnings per share declined by 14.5% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has suffered a declining pattern of earnings per share over the past year. However, we anticipate this trend reversing over the coming year. During the past fiscal year, BRADY CORP swung to a loss, reporting -$0.36 versus $2.05 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($2.30 versus -$0.36).

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Brady Corporation provides identification solutions and specialty materials in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. Brady has a market cap of $1.51 billion and is part of the services sector and diversified services industry. Shares are up 0.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

You can view the full Brady 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.

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For more information on Brady Corporation click any of the following:

• Brady Corporation Stock Price

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• Brady Corporation Earnings

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• Brady Corporation Growth Rates

• Brady Corporation Balance Sheet

• Brady Corporation Cash Flow

• Brady Corporation Income Statement