ESCO Technologies Inc. Stock Upgraded (ESE)

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) -- ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, increase in net income, expanding profit margins, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• ESE's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 0.5%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 0.8%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• 40.60% is the gross profit margin for ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC which we consider to be strong. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 9.19% is above that of the industry average.
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has greatly exceeded that of the S&P 500, but is less than that of the Machinery industry average. The net income increased by 14.9% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, going from $15.38 million to $17.68 million.
• ESE's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.18 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Although the company had a strong debt-to-equity ratio, its quick ratio of 0.89 is somewhat weak and could be cause for future problems.
• Investors have apparently begun to recognize positive factors similar to those we have mentioned in this report, including earnings growth. This has helped drive up the company's shares by a sharp 34.23% over the past year, a rise that has exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index. We feel that the stock's sharp appreciation over the last year has driven it to a price level which is now somewhat expensive compared to the rest of its industry. The other strengths this company shows, however, justify the higher price levels.

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ESCO Technologies Inc. produces and supplies engineered products and systems for utility, industrial, aerospace, and commercial markets worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.9, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. ESCO has a market cap of $1.04 billion and is part of the technology sector and electronics industry. Shares are up 5.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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.

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For more information on ESCO Technologies Inc. click any of the following:

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Stock Price

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Analyst Ratings

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Earnings

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Ratio Comparison

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Growth Rates

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Balance Sheet

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Cash Flow

• ESCO Technologies Inc. Income Statement