HomeAway Inc Stock Upgraded (AWAY)

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) -- HomeAway (Nasdaq:AWAY) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from sell to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its compelling growth in net income, robust revenue growth and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company's return on equity has been disappointing.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• HOMEAWAY INC has shown improvement in its earnings for its most recently reported quarter when compared with the same quarter a year earlier. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past year. We feel that this trend should continue. This trend suggests that the performance of the business is improving. During the past fiscal year, HOMEAWAY INC increased its bottom line by earning $0.17 versus $0.08 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.64 versus $0.17).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Internet & Catalog Retail industry. The net income increased by 1877.0% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from -$0.26 million to $4.55 million.
• This stock has managed to rise its share value by 17.48% over the past twelve months. Looking ahead, the stock's rise over the last year has already helped drive it to a level which is relatively expensive compared to the rest of its industry, implying reduced upside potential.
• The gross profit margin for HOMEAWAY INC is currently very high, coming in at 84.30%. Regardless of AWAY's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, AWAY's net profit margin of 6.35% compares favorably to the industry average.
• The return on equity has improved slightly when compared to the same quarter one year prior. This can be construed as a modest strength in the organization. Compared to other companies in the Internet & Catalog Retail industry and the overall market, HOMEAWAY INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

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HomeAway, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates an online marketplace for the vacation rental industry worldwide. Its vacation rental properties include homes, condominiums, villas, and cabins to the public on a nightly, weekly, or monthly basis. The company has a P/E ratio of 169.1, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. HomeAway has a market cap of $2.55 billion and is part of the technology sector and internet industry. Shares are up 38.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full HomeAway 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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