OraSure Technologies Inc. Stock Downgraded (OSUR)

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) -- OraSure Technologies (Nasdaq:OSUR) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its feeble growth in its earnings per share, deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and weak operating cash flow.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES INC's earnings have gone downhill when comparing its most recently reported quarter with the same quarter a year earlier. Earnings per share have declined over the last two years. We anticipate that this should continue in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES INC reported poor results of -$0.29 versus -$0.19 in the prior year. For the next year, the market is expecting a contraction of 53.4% in earnings (-$0.45 versus -$0.29).
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 5200.9% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $0.12 million to -$5.87 million.
• 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. Compared to other companies in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry and the overall market, ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to -$1.37 million or 226.01% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.
• This stock's share value has moved by only 45.64% over the past year. Naturally, the overall market trend is bound to be a significant factor. However, in one sense, the stock's sharp decline last year is a positive for future investors, making it cheaper (in proportion to its earnings over the past year) than most other stocks in its industry. But due to other concerns, we feel the stock is still not a good buy right now.

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OraSure Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells oral fluid diagnostic products and specimen collection devices in the United States and internationally. OraSure has a market cap of $387.4 million and is part of the health care sector and health services industry. Shares are down 2.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full OraSure Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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• OraSure Technologies Inc. Income Statement