Tetra Technologies Inc. Stock Upgraded (TTI)

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) -- Tetra Technologies (NYSE:TTI) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth and compelling growth in net income. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself and poor profit margins.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 8.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 24.1%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
• TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC/DE 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 two years. We feel that this trend should continue. This trend suggests that the performance of the business is improving. During the past fiscal year, TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC/DE increased its bottom line by earning $0.21 versus $0.05 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.81 versus $0.21).
• Despite currently having a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, it is higher than that of the industry average, inferring that management of debt levels may need to be evaluated further. Regardless of the somewhat mixed results with the debt-to-equity ratio, the company's quick ratio of 0.98 is weak.
• The gross profit margin for TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC/DE is currently extremely low, coming in at 14.10%. Regardless of TTI's low profit margin, it has managed to increase from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, TTI's net profit margin of -1.73% significantly underperformed when compared to the industry average.
• TTI has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, declining 6.20% from its price level of one year ago. Looking ahead, we do not see anything in this company's numbers that would change the one-year trend. It was down over the last twelve months; and it could be down again in the next twelve. Naturally, a bull or bear market could sway the movement of this stock.

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TETRA Technologies, Inc. operates as a diversified oil and gas services company. The company operates in three divisions: Fluids, Production Enhancement, and Offshore. Tetra has a market cap of $702 million and is part of the basic materials sector and energy industry. Shares are up 21.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Tetra 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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For more information on Tetra Technologies Inc. click any of the following:

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• Tetra Technologies Inc. Growth Rates

• Tetra Technologies Inc. Balance Sheet

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• Tetra Technologies Inc. Income Statement