Lorillard Inc. Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (LO)

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) -- Lorillard (NYSE:LO) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of B- . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, increase in stock price during the past year, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income and good cash flow from operations. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• LO's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 3.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 4.6%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
• The stock has risen over the past year as investors have generally rewarded the company for its earnings growth and other positive factors like the ones we have cited in this report. Turning our attention to the future direction of the stock, it goes without saying that even the best stocks can fall in an overall down market. However, in any other environment, this stock still has good upside potential despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year.
• LORILLARD INC has improved earnings per share by 11.3% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, LORILLARD INC increased its bottom line by earning $8.02 versus $6.78 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($8.40 versus $8.02).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Tobacco industry average. The net income increased by 6.0% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, going from $267.00 million to $283.00 million.
• Net operating cash flow has increased to $578.00 million or 34.73% when compared to the same quarter last year. The firm also exceeded the industry average cash flow growth rate of -6.46%.

Lorillard, Inc., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarettes in the United States. It markets approximately 43 product offerings in various brand names, including Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold. Lorillard has a market cap of $15.1 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and tobacco industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.2, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are unchanged year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

You can view the full Lorillard 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 Lorillard Inc. click any of the following:

• Lorillard Inc. Stock Price

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• Lorillard Inc. Earnings

• Lorillard Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Lorillard Inc. Growth Rates

• Lorillard Inc. Balance Sheet

• Lorillard Inc. Cash Flow

• Lorillard Inc. Income Statement