5 Stocks Pushing The Financial Sector Lower

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%. 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%. 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%.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector lower today:

5. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) is one of the companies pushing the Financial sector lower today. As of noon trading, Berkshire Hathaway is down $795.10 (-0.5%) to $145,699.90 on light volume Thus far, 172 shares of Berkshire Hathaway exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 800 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $145,400.01-$146,600.00 after having opened the day at $146,600.00 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $146,495.00.

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. Through its subsidiaries, the firm primarily engages in the insurance and reinsurance of property and casualty risks business. Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1889 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Berkshire Hathaway has a market cap of $134.9 billion and is part of the insurance industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 2189.8, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Berkshire Hathaway as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share and compelling growth in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value. Get the full Berkshire Hathaway Ratings Report now.

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4. As of noon trading, Aflac (AFL) is down $0.44 (-0.8%) to $52.91 on light volume Thus far, 807,399 shares of Aflac exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.9 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $52.68-$53.33 after having opened the day at $53.25 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $53.35.

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, provides supplemental health and life insurance. Aflac has a market cap of $24.8 billion and is part of the insurance industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.7, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 0.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 6 analysts that rate Aflac a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Aflac as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity, 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 Aflac Ratings Report now.

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3. As of noon trading, American Tower (AMT) is down $1.15 (-1.5%) to $77.47 on average volume Thus far, 954,920 shares of American Tower exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $77.30-$79.14 after having opened the day at $79.14 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $78.62.

American Tower Corporation, a real estate investment trust, operates as a wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure company. It develops, owns, and operates communications sites. American Tower has a market cap of $31.2 billion and is part of the real estate industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 44.6, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 2.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate American Tower a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates American Tower 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, revenue growth and notable return on equity. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. Get the full American Tower Ratings Report now.

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2. As of noon trading, Simon Property Group (SPG) is down $1.16 (-0.7%) to $161.63 on light volume Thus far, 238,450 shares of Simon Property Group exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.1 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $160.75-$162.82 after having opened the day at $162.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $162.79.

Simon Property Group, Inc. is an independent equity real estate investment trust. It engages in investment, ownership, and management of properties. The firm invests in the real estate markets across the globe. Simon Property Group has a market cap of $50.3 billion and is part of the real estate industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 32.9, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 2.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 13 analysts that rate Simon Property Group a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Simon Property Group as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Simon Property Group Ratings Report now.

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1. As of noon trading, Prudential Financial (PRU) is down $0.43 (-0.7%) to $58.32 on light volume Thus far, 730,519 shares of Prudential Financial exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.6 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $57.97-$58.83 after having opened the day at $58.75 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $58.75.

Prudential Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, and investment management services in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential Financial has a market cap of $27.2 billion and is part of the insurance industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 23.4, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 10.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 13 analysts that rate Prudential Financial a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 6 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Prudential Financial as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its reasonable valuation levels, good cash flow from operations and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and poor profit margins. Get the full Prudential Financial 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.

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