Life Technologies Corp (LIFE): 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.

Life Technologies (LIFE) pushed the Health Care sector lower today making it today's featured Health Care laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.9%. By the end of trading, Life Technologies fell $2.22 (-3.4%) to $63.02 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.4 million shares of Life Technologies exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.1 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $62.66-$64.70 after having opened the day at $64.58 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $65.24. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were: Bioline Rx (BLRX), down 16.4%, Celsion Corporation (CLSN), down 11.4%, Idera Pharmaceuticals (IDRA), down 9.6%, and Spherix (SPEX), down 9.2%.

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Life Technologies Corporation operates as a global life sciences company. Life Technologies has a market cap of $11.13 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 28.2, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 31.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Life Technologies a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and nine rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Life Technologies as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, good cash flow from operations, expanding profit margins, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Life Ratings Report.

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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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