Vivus (VVUS): Today's Featured Health Care Laggard

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.

Vivus (VVUS) pushed the Health Care sector lower today making it today's featured Health Care laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.3%. By the end of trading, Vivus fell 25 cents (-2.3%) to $10.54 on average volume. Throughout the day, 3.5 million shares of Vivus exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.2 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $10.32-$11.15 after having opened the day at $10.99 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $10.79. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were: Cardica (CRDC), down 19.4%, Amarin Corporation (AMRN), down 18.9%, Corcept Therapeutics (CORT), down 11.7%, and China Botanic Pharmaceutical (CBP), down 11.6%.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

VIVUS, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, is developing therapies to address obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes, and male sexual health. Its lead investigational product, Qnexa, has completed Phase three clinical trials for the treatment of obesity. Vivus has a market cap of $1.11 billion and is part of the drugs industry. Shares are up 10.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are five analysts that rate Vivus a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Vivus as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, weak operating cash flow and feeble growth in its earnings per share.

• You can view the full Vivus Ratings Report.

On the positive front, CombiMatrix Corporation (CBMX), up 336.6%, Telik (TELK), up 24%, Cyanotech Corporation (CYAN), up 13.7%, and Oxygen Biotherapeutics (OXBT), up 11.5%, were all gainers within the health care sector with Humana (HUM) being today's featured health care sector leader.

• Use our health care section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

Holiday Special: Subscribe to Action Alerts PLUS to see how Jim Cramer trades his $2.5 Million+ portfolio for 51% off the list price. Your first 14-days are FREE: Sign up today to get e-mail alerts before every trade.

For more information on Vivus click any of the following:

• Vivus Stock Price

• Vivus Analyst Ratings

• Vivus Key Stats & Profile

• Vivus Earnings

• Vivus Ratio Comparison

• Vivus Growth Rates

• Vivus Balance Sheet

• Vivus Cash Flow

• Vivus Income Statement