Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (PBR): Today's Featured Basic Materials Laggard

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.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (PBR) pushed the Basic Materials sector lower today making it today's featured Basic Materials laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 1.1%. By the end of trading, Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras fell 37 cents (-2.1%) to $17.19 on average volume. Throughout the day, 22 million shares of Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 16.9 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $16.92-$17.60 after having opened the day at $17.59 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $17.56. Other companies within the Basic Materials sector that declined today were: Prospect Global Resources (PGRX), down 21.5%, Sutor Technology Group (SUTR), down 19.3%, BMB Munai (BMBM), down 12.1%, and HyperDynamics Corporation (HDY), down 11.9%.

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Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. operates as an integrated oil and gas company in Brazil and internationally. Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras has a market cap of $108.79 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 5.4, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 9.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are two analysts that rate Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and nine rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in net income, attractive valuation levels and growth in earnings per share. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and poor profit margins.

• You can view the full Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Willbros Group (WG), up 22.3%, Midway Gold (MDW), up 18.5%, James River Coal Company (JRCC), up 17.2%, and Ikonics Corporation (IKNX), up 14.8%, were all gainers within the basic materials sector with LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) being today's featured basic materials sector leader.

• Use our basic materials 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 basic materials sector could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the basic materials sector could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

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

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For more information on Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras click any of the following:

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Stock Price

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Analyst Ratings

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Key Stats & Profile

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Earnings

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Ratio Comparison

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Growth Rates

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Balance Sheet

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Cash Flow

• Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras Income Statement