Suncor Energy Inc Stock Downgraded (SU)

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) -- Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. Among the primary strengths of the company is its solid financial position based on a variety of debt and liquidity measures that we have evaluated. At the same time, however, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and deteriorating net income.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

• SU's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.28 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.09, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• SU, with its decline in revenue, slightly underperformed the industry average of 4.4%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 4.7%. Weakness in the company's revenue seems to have hurt the bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
• In its most recent trading session, SU has closed at a price level that was not very different from its closing price of one year earlier. This is probably due to its weak earnings growth as well as other mixed factors. Looking ahead, other than the push or pull of the broad market, we do not see anything in the company's numbers that may help reverse the decline experienced over the past 12 months. Despite the past decline, the stock is still selling for more than most others in its industry.
• The gross profit margin for SUNCOR ENERGY INC is currently lower than what is desirable, coming in at 26.50%. It has decreased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of -5.95% is significantly below that of the industry average.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $1,175.00 million or 58.08% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.

.

Suncor Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated energy company. The company has a P/E ratio of 10.1, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Suncor Energy has a market cap of $49.49 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and energy industry. Shares are down 2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

It's Official: Action Alerts PLUS beats the S&P 500 with Dividends Reinvested! Cramer and Link were up 16.72% in 2012. Were you? See what they are trading for 14-days FREE.

For more information on Suncor Energy Inc click any of the following:

• Suncor Energy Inc Stock Price

• Suncor Energy Inc Analyst Ratings

• Suncor Energy Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Suncor Energy Inc Earnings

• Suncor Energy Inc Ratio Comparison

• Suncor Energy Inc Growth Rates

• Suncor Energy Inc Balance Sheet

• Suncor Energy Inc Cash Flow

• Suncor Energy Inc Income Statement