Qiagen NV Stock Downgraded (QGEN)

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) -- Qiagen (Nasdaq:QGEN) 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, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and feeble growth in the company's earnings per share.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• QGEN's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 1.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 5.3%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
• QGEN's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.25 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.07, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• The gross profit margin for QIAGEN NV is currently very high, coming in at 90.00%. 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 9.58% trails the industry average.
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and greatly underperformed compared to the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry average. The net income has decreased by 17.0% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, dropping from $35.15 million to $29.16 million.
• The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. Compared to other companies in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry and the overall market, QIAGEN NV's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

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QIAGEN N.V., through its subsidiaries, provides sample and assay technologies worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 39.4, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Qiagen has a market cap of $4.28 billion and is part of the services sector and diversified services industry. Shares are up 31.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Qiagen 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 Qiagen NV click any of the following:

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• Qiagen NV Growth Rates

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• Qiagen NV Cash Flow

• Qiagen NV Income Statement