Sanofi Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (SNY)

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) -- Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of A- . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• 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:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 4.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 16.2%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
• Compared to its closing price of one year ago, SNY's share price has jumped by 33.61%, exceeding the performance of the broader market during that same time frame. Regarding the stock's future course, although almost any stock can fall in a broad market decline, SNY should continue to move higher despite the fact that it has already enjoyed a very nice gain in the past year.
• The gross profit margin for SANOFI is rather high; currently it is at 60.00%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Regardless of the strong results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of 16.86% trails the industry average.
• SANOFI's earnings per share declined by 17.0% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, SANOFI increased its bottom line by earning $2.81 versus $2.79 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($8.15 versus $2.81).
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Pharmaceuticals industry average. The net income has decreased by 17.3% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, dropping from $2,491.29 million to $2,060.61 million.

Sanofi researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products worldwide. Sanofi has a market cap of $126.63 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 25.8, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

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

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

It's Official: Action Alerts PLUS beats the S&P 500 with Dividends Reinvested! Cramer and Link were up 16.72% in 2012. Were you? See what they are trading for 14-days FREE

For more information on Sanofi click any of the following:

• Sanofi Stock Price

• Sanofi Analyst Ratings

• Sanofi Key Stats & Profile

• Sanofi Earnings

• Sanofi Ratio Comparison

• Sanofi Growth Rates

• Sanofi Balance Sheet

• Sanofi Cash Flow

• Sanofi Income Statement