Rockwell Automation Incorporated (ROK): Today's Featured Industrial Goods 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.

Rockwell Automation Incorporated ( ROK) pushed the Industrial Goods sector lower today making it today's featured Industrial Goods laggard. The sector as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Rockwell Automation Incorporated fell $1.06 (-1.2%) to $89.28 on average volume. Throughout the day, 980,558 shares of Rockwell Automation Incorporated exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of one million shares. The stock ranged in price between $88.38-$90.45 after having opened the day at $89.72 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $90.34. Other companies within the Industrial Goods sector that declined today were: Foster Wheeler ( FWLT), down 16%, McDermott International ( MDR), down 15.9%, Real Goods Solar ( RSOL), down 9.6%, and Energy Recovery ( ERII), down 6.9%.

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Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation power, control, and information solutions. It operates in two segments, Architecture & Software and Control Products & Solutions. Rockwell Automation Incorporated has a market cap of $12.64 billion and is part of the industrial industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.1, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 7.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are six analysts that rate Rockwell Automation Incorporated a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Rockwell Automation Incorporated as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, increase in stock price during the past year and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Rockwell Automation Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Broadwind Energy ( BWEN), up 13.3%, Sauer-Danfoss ( SHS), up 8.5%, MagneGas Corporation ( MNGA), up 8.1%, and Xinyuan Real Estate ( XIN), up 7.9%, were all gainers within the industrial goods sector with Hovnanian ( HOV) being today's featured industrial goods sector leader.

• Use our industrial goods 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 industrial goods sector could consider Industrial Select Sector SPDR ( XLI) while those bearish on the industrial goods sector could consider ProShares Short Dow 30 ( DOG).

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

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