Biogen Idec Inc (BIIB): Today's Featured Drugs 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.

Biogen Idec (BIIB) pushed the Drugs industry lower today making it today's featured Drugs laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 1.3%. By the end of trading, Biogen Idec fell $1.93 (-1.3%) to $145.93 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.5 million shares of Biogen Idec exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.1 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $145.77-$148.45 after having opened the day at $148.02 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $147.86. Other companies within the Drugs industry that declined today were: ImmuCell Corporation (ICCC), down 8%, Theratechnologies (THER), down 6.1%, Durata Therapeutics (DRTX), down 5.8%, and Medgenics (MDGN), down 5.5%.

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Biogen Idec Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia, and autoimmune disorders in the United States and internationally. Biogen Idec has a market cap of $35.49 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 26, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 2.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 13 analysts that rate Biogen Idec a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and eight rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Biogen Idec as a buy. 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, notable return on equity, reasonable valuation levels and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full Biogen Idec Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Corcept Therapeutics (CORT), up 14.7%, Cytokinetics (CYTK), up 14.3%, China Biologic Products (CBPO), up 13.7%, and Oxygen Biotherapeutics (OXBT), up 12.4%, were all gainers within the drugs industry with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) being today's featured drugs industry leader.

• Use our drugs section to find industry-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 drugs industry could consider SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) while those bearish on the drugs industry could consider ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotech (BIS).

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

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