Baxter International Inc. (BAX): Today's Featured Health 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.

Baxter International (BAX) pushed the Health Services industry higher today making it today's featured health services winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.5%. By the end of trading, Baxter International rose $1.30 (1.9%) to $68.90 on average volume. Throughout the day, 3.4 million shares of Baxter International exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.8 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $67.21-$68.99 after having opened the day at $67.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $67.60. Other companies within the Health Services industry that increased today were: Alphatec Holdings (ATEC), up 14.7%, Nanosphere (NSPH), up 13.8%, ZELTIQ Aesthetics (ZLTQ), up 10.9%, and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), up 8.5%.

• 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.

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. Baxter International has a market cap of $36.75 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.1, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Baxter International a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and five rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Baxter International as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, revenue growth and good cash flow from operations. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results.

• You can view the full Baxter International Ratings Report.

On the negative front, USMD Holdings (USMD), down 11.2%, Spherix (SPEX), down 9.4%, CombiMatrix Corporation (CBMX), down 9.1%, and Misonix (MSON), down 6.8%, were all laggards within the health services industry with ResMed (RMD) being today's health services industry laggard.

• Use our health services section to find industry-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 health services industry could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health services industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

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

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 Baxter International Inc. click any of the following:

• Baxter International Inc. Stock Price

• Baxter International Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Baxter International Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Baxter International Inc. Earnings

• Baxter International Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Baxter International Inc. Growth Rates

• Baxter International Inc. Balance Sheet

• Baxter International Inc. Cash Flow

• Baxter International Inc. Income Statement