Virgin Media Inc Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (VMED)

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) -- Virgin Media (Nasdaq:VMED) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of B . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels, expanding profit margins and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• VMED's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 8.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 10.6%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
• Powered by its strong earnings growth of 5152.00% and other important driving factors, this stock has surged by 85.08% over the past year, outperforming the rise in the S&P 500 Index during the same period. Turning to the future, naturally, any stock can fall in a major bear market. However, in almost any other environment, the stock should continue to move higher despite the fact that it has already enjoyed nice gains in the past year.
• VIRGIN MEDIA 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 two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, VIRGIN MEDIA INC increased its bottom line by earning $14.23 versus $0.37 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($156.00 versus $14.23).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Media industry. The net income increased by 5691.6% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $74.65 million to $4,323.36 million.
• The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Media industry and the overall market, VIRGIN MEDIA INC's return on equity significantly exceeds that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

Virgin Media Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides entertainment and communications services in the United Kingdom. Virgin Media has a market cap of $12.66 billion and is part of the services sector and media industry. Shares are up 28.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

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

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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For more information on Virgin Media Inc click any of the following:

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• Virgin Media Inc Income Statement