Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO): Today's Featured Services Winner

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.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO) pushed the Services sector higher today making it today's featured services winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.1%. By the end of trading, Family Dollar Stores rose $1.12 (2%) to $56.61 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.6 million shares of Family Dollar Stores exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of two million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $55.36-$56.97 after having opened the day at $55.57 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $55.49. Other companies within the Services sector that increased today were: Frozen Food Express Industries (FFEX), up 22.1%, Orbitz Worldwide (OWW), up 16.7%, EnerNOC (ENOC), up 16.5%, and NTN Buzztime (NTN), up 14.5%.

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Family Dollar Stores, Inc. operates a chain of self-service retail discount stores primarily for low- and middle-income consumers in the United States. Family Dollar Stores has a market cap of $6.53 billion and is part of the retail industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 11.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Family Dollar Stores a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Family Dollar Stores as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and reasonable valuation levels. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Family Dollar Stores Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Weight Watchers International (WTW), down 17%, Strayer Education (STRA), down 16.4%, Stamps.com (STMP), down 14.6%, and Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrances (ULTA), down 11.8%, were all laggards within the services sector with Macy's (M) being today's services sector laggard.

• Use our services 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 services sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Services (IYC) while those bearish on the services sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Consumer Sers (SCC).

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

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For more information on Family Dollar Stores Inc. click any of the following:

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Stock Price

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Earnings

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Growth Rates

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Balance Sheet

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Cash Flow

• Family Dollar Stores Inc. Income Statement