Symantec Corp (SYMC): Today's Featured Technology Winner

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.

Symantec ( SYMC) pushed the Technology sector higher today making it today's featured technology winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.1%. By the end of trading, Symantec rose 24 cents (1%) to $23.68 on average volume. Throughout the day, 7.8 million shares of Symantec exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 8.1 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $23.21-$23.76 after having opened the day at $23.40 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $23.44. Other companies within the Technology sector that increased today were: Sycamore Networks ( SCMR), up 16.9%, Revolution Lighting Technologies ( RVLT), up 16.5%, Trulia ( TRLA), up 14%, and Suntech Power Holdings ( STP), up 13.9%.

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Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions to various organization and consumers worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer, Security and Compliance, Storage and Server Management, and Services. Symantec has a market cap of $16.01 billion and is part of the computer software & services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 23.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 15 analysts that rate Symantec a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Symantec as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Symantec Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Wireless Ronin Technologies ( RNIN), down 25.7%, Dataram Corporation ( DRAM), down 12.9%, CSP ( CSPI), down 12%, and OmniVision Technologies ( OVTI), down 11.7%, were all laggards within the technology sector with Xilinx ( XLNX) being today's technology sector laggard.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the technology sector could consider Technology Select Sector SPDR ( XLK) while those bearish on the technology sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Technology ( REW).

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

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