The chemicals industry closed the day up 1.7%. Olin Corporation ( OLN), Omnova Solutions Inc ( OMN), China Green Agriculture Inc ( CGA), and Landec Corporation ( LNDC) were all decliners today within the chemicals industry with Monsanto Company ( MON) being today's featured chemicals loser. Monsanto Company fell $1.54 (-2%) to $76.43 on light volume. Throughout the day, 4.1 million shares of Monsanto Company exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 5.6 million shares.

Monsanto Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides agricultural products for farmers in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Seeds and Genomics, and Agricultural Productivity. Monsanto Company has a market cap of $39 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 25.1, above the average chemicals industry P/E ratio of 24.6 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 12% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Monsanto as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and revenue growth. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that we feel that the company's cash flow from its operations has been weak overall.

On the positive front, BioFuel Energy Corporation ( BIOF), Pacific Ethanol Inc ( PEIX), Pacific Ethanol Inc ( PEIXD), and TOR Minerals International Inc ( TORM) were all gainers within the chemicals industry with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company ( DD) being today's featured chemicals industry winner.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the chemicals industry could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR ( XLB) while those bearish on the chemicals industry could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd ( SBM).
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