Canon Inc. Stock Downgraded (CAJ)

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) -- Canon (NYSE:CAJ) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins and attractive valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, disappointing return on equity and weak operating cash flow.

• 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:

• CAJ's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.00 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.31, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• The gross profit margin for CANON INC is rather high; currently it is at 56.30%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 6.28% is above that of the industry average.
• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 17.8%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues fell by 16.2%. Weakness in the company's revenue seems to have hurt the bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $880.79 million or 57.66% when compared to the same quarter last year. In conjunction, when comparing current results to the industry average, CANON INC has marginally lower results.
• The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. When compared to other companies in the Office Electronics industry and the overall market, CANON INC's return on equity is below that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

.

Canon Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of network digital multifunction devices (MFDs), plain paper copying machines, laser printers, inkjet printers, cameras, and lithography equipment worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.1, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Canon has a market cap of $42.65 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer durables industry. Shares are down 5.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full Canon 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 Canon Inc. click any of the following:

• Canon Inc. Stock Price

• Canon Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Canon Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Canon Inc. Earnings

• Canon Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Canon Inc. Growth Rates

• Canon Inc. Balance Sheet

• Canon Inc. Cash Flow

• Canon Inc. Income Statement