Applied Materials Inc. Stock Hold Recommendation Reiterated (AMAT)

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) -- Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a hold with a ratings score of C+ . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

• 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

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Although AMAT's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27 is very low, it is currently higher than that of the industry average. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.39, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• 41.60% is the gross profit margin for APPLIED MATERIALS INC which we consider to be strong. Regardless of AMAT's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, AMAT's net profit margin of -31.28% significantly underperformed when compared to the industry average.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $411.00 million or 41.11% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing the cash generation rate to the industry average, the firm's growth is significantly lower.
• Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry and the overall market, APPLIED MATERIALS INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

Applied Materials, Inc. provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, flat panel display, solar photovoltaic (PV), and related industries worldwide. Applied has a market cap of $13.31 billion and is part of the technology sector and electronics industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 123.4, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 3.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

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

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Let Jim Cramer show you every trade he is making in his $2.5 Million portfolio. Join now for 14-days FREE. Sign up today to get e-mail alerts before every trade

For more information on Applied Materials Inc. click any of the following:

• Applied Materials Inc. Stock Price

• Applied Materials Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Applied Materials Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Applied Materials Inc. Earnings

• Applied Materials Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Applied Materials Inc. Growth Rates

• Applied Materials Inc. Balance Sheet

• Applied Materials Inc. Cash Flow

• Applied Materials Inc. Income Statement