Verizon Communications Inc Stock Downgraded (VZ)

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) -- Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, expanding profit margins and increase in stock price during the past year. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and weak operating cash flow.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 8.6%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 5.7%. 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.
• The gross profit margin for VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC is rather high; currently it is at 56.50%. Regardless of VZ's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, VZ's net profit margin of -14.07% significantly underperformed when compared to the industry average.
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Diversified Telecommunication Services industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 109.0% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from -$2,023.00 million to -$4,229.00 million.
• Net operating cash flow has decreased to $6,728.00 million or 18.62% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing the cash generation rate to the industry average, the firm's growth is significantly lower.

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Verizon Communications Inc. provides communications, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental agencies worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 39, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Verizon has a market cap of $121.41 billion and is part of the technology sector and telecommunications industry. Shares are down 1.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

You can view the full Verizon 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 Verizon Communications Inc click any of the following:

• Verizon Communications Inc Stock Price

• Verizon Communications Inc Analyst Ratings

• Verizon Communications Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Verizon Communications Inc Earnings

• Verizon Communications Inc Ratio Comparison

• Verizon Communications Inc Growth Rates

• Verizon Communications Inc Balance Sheet

• Verizon Communications Inc Cash Flow

• Verizon Communications Inc Income Statement