VeriFone Systems Inc. (PAY): Today's Featured Consumer Goods Winner

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.

VeriFone Systems (PAY) pushed the Consumer Goods sector higher today making it today's featured consumer goods winner. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.5%. By the end of trading, VeriFone Systems rose 67 cents (2.2%) to $31.50 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.5 million shares of VeriFone Systems exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.5 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $30.75-$32.07 after having opened the day at $30.89 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $30.83. Other companies within the Consumer Goods sector that increased today were: Origin Agritech (SEED), up 13.8%, Zuoan Fashion (ZA), up 7.5%, CCA Industries (CAW), up 7.2%, and SkyPeople Fruit Juice (SPU), up 6.8%.

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Verifone Systems, Inc. designs, markets, and services electronic payment solutions worldwide. VeriFone Systems has a market cap of $3.27 billion and is part of the consumer durables industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 51.4, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 2.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are eight analysts that rate VeriFone Systems a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates VeriFone Systems as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, expanding profit margins and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full VeriFone Systems Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Central European Distribution (CEDC), down 7.5%, Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA), down 7%, Seneca Foods (SENEB), down 6.8%, and Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT), down 6.8%, were all laggards within the consumer goods sector with VF Corporation (VFC) being today's consumer goods sector laggard.

• Use our consumer goods 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 consumer goods sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Goods (IYK) while those bearish on the consumer goods sector could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods (SZK).

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

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For more information on VeriFone Systems Inc. click any of the following:

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Stock Price

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Analyst Ratings

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Earnings

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Ratio Comparison

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Growth Rates

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Balance Sheet

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Cash Flow

• VeriFone Systems Inc. Income Statement