Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN): Today's Featured Health Care Laggard

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.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) pushed the Health Care sector lower today making it today's featured Health Care laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, Alexion Pharmaceuticals fell $1.36 (-1.4%) to $93.99 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.1 million shares of Alexion Pharmaceuticals exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.4 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $93.62-$95.38 after having opened the day at $94.73 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $95.35. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were: Celsion Corporation (CLSN), down 81.2%, Novogen (NVGN), down 16.4%, MediciNova (MNOV), down 8.7%, and Repros Therapeutics (RPRX), down 8.2%.

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Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of biologic therapeutic products in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Alexion Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $18.36 billion and is part of the drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 84.1, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 15 analysts that rate Alexion Pharmaceuticals a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and five rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Alexion Pharmaceuticals as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and impressive record of earnings per share growth. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Alexion Ratings Report.

On the positive front, ARCA biopharma (ABIO), up 26.5%, Redhill Biopharma Ltd ADR (RDHL), up 23.6%, Cardiovascular Systems (CSII), up 15.7%, and EntreMed (ENMD), up 13.9%, were all gainers within the health care sector with Perrigo Company (PRGO) being today's featured health care sector leader.

• Use our health care section to find sector-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 health care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

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

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For more information on Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. click any of the following:

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• Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Growth Rates

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• Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Income Statement