3 Stocks Pushing The Financial Sector Higher

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) steady at 13,953 as of Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, 11:50 AM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,129 issues advancing vs. 1,699 declining with 163 unchanged.

The Financial sector currently sits down 0.2% versus the S&P 500, which is down 0.0%. Top gainers within the sector include Nomura Holdings (NMR), up 2.7%, HDFC Bank (HDB), up 1.6%, Deutsche Bank (DB), up 1.2%, Capital One Financial (COF), up 1.0% and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MTU), up 0.7%. On the negative front, top decliners within the sector include Icahn (IEP), down 4.8%, Weyerhaeuser (WY), down 2.4%, Prologis (PLD), down 1.7%, Lloyds Banking Group (LYG), down 1.8% and ACE (ACE), down 1.4%.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 3 stocks pushing the sector higher today:

3. Regions Financial Corporation (RF) is one of the companies pushing the Financial sector higher today. As of noon trading, Regions Financial Corporation is up $0.09 (1.2%) to $7.80 on average volume Thus far, 6.8 million shares of Regions Financial Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 16.7 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $7.65-$7.82 after having opened the day at $7.71 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $7.71.

Regions Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Regions Bank that provides a range of commercial, retail, and mortgage banking services in the United States. Regions Financial Corporation has a market cap of $10.9 billion and is part of the banking industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 8.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 8 analysts that rate Regions Financial Corporation a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Regions Financial Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, attractive valuation levels and expanding profit margins. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook. Get the full Regions Financial Corporation Ratings Report now.

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2. As of noon trading, Allstate (ALL) is up $0.29 (0.7%) to $44.11 on light volume Thus far, 794,132 shares of Allstate exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.4 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $43.63-$44.13 after having opened the day at $43.82 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $43.82.

The Allstate Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the personal property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and retirement and investment products business primarily in the United States. Allstate has a market cap of $21.0 billion and is part of the insurance industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.3, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 8.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Allstate a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Allstate as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, compelling growth in net income, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. Get the full Allstate Ratings Report now.

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1. As of noon trading, IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) is up $1.94 (1.4%) to $138.65 on average volume Thus far, 652,545 shares of IntercontinentalExchange exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.1 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $136.89-$138.76 after having opened the day at $136.97 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $136.71.

IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. operates regulated exchanges, clearing houses, and over-the-counter (OTC) markets for agricultural, credit, currency, emissions, energy, and equity index contracts. IntercontinentalExchange has a market cap of $9.8 billion and is part of the financial services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 17.6, equal to the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 8 analysts that rate IntercontinentalExchange a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates IntercontinentalExchange as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity 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. Get the full IntercontinentalExchange Ratings Report now.

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If you are interested in one of these 3 stocks, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the financial sector could consider Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) while those bearish on the financial sector could consider Proshares Short Financials (SEF).

A reminder about TheStreet Ratings group: 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.

For more information on Regions Financial Corporation click any of the following:

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• Regions Financial Corporation Income Statement