Dow Chemical Co (DOW): Today's Featured Chemicals 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.

Dow Chemical (DOW) pushed the Chemicals industry higher today making it today's featured chemicals winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.3%. By the end of trading, Dow Chemical rose 35 cents (1%) to $34.43 on average volume. Throughout the day, 11 million shares of Dow Chemical exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 7.4 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $34.17-$34.62 after having opened the day at $34.19 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $34.08. Other companies within the Chemicals industry that increased today were: Gevo (GEVO), up 9.8%, Methanex Corporation (MEOH), up 7.7%, Ceres (CERE), up 5.1%, and PetroLogistics (PDH), up 3.6%.

• 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.

The Dow Chemical Company manufactures and supplies chemical products used as raw materials in the manufacture of customer products and services worldwide. Dow Chemical has a market cap of $40.71 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 26.3, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 5% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are two analysts that rate Dow Chemical a buy, four analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Dow Chemical as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Dow Chemical Ratings Report.

• Use our chemicals 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 chemicals industry could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the chemicals industry could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

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

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 Dow Chemical Co click any of the following:

• Dow Chemical Co Stock Price

• Dow Chemical Co Analyst Ratings

• Dow Chemical Co Key Stats & Profile

• Dow Chemical Co Earnings

• Dow Chemical Co Ratio Comparison

• Dow Chemical Co Growth Rates

• Dow Chemical Co Balance Sheet

• Dow Chemical Co Cash Flow

• Dow Chemical Co Income Statement