Skywest Incorporated Stock Upgraded (SKYW)

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) -- Skywest Incorporated (Nasdaq:SKYW) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Compared to where it was a year ago today, the stock is now trading at a higher level, reflecting both the market's overall trend during that period and the fact that the company's earnings growth has been robust. Turning our attention to the future direction of the stock, it goes without saying that even the best stocks can fall in an overall down market. However, in any other environment, this stock still has good upside potential despite the fact that it has already risen in the past year.
• SKYWEST INC reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past year. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, SKYWEST INC turned its bottom line around by earning $0.99 versus -$0.53 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($1.28 versus $0.99).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Airlines industry. The net income increased by 177.6% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from -$17.97 million to $13.95 million.
• Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 6042.64% to $44.66 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, SKYWEST INC has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of -27.13%.

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SkyWest, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates a regional airline in the United States. The company offers scheduled passenger and air freight services with departures to destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.7, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Skywest has a market cap of $700.9 million and is part of the services sector and transportation industry. Shares are up 8.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

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.

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