Genworth Financial Inc (GNW): Today's Featured Insurance 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.

Genworth Financial ( GNW) pushed the Insurance industry higher today making it today's featured insurance winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.6%. By the end of trading, Genworth Financial rose 57 cents (6.7%) to $9.09 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 16.4 million shares of Genworth Financial exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 10.4 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $8.51-$9.13 after having opened the day at $8.53 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $8.52. Other companies within the Insurance industry that increased today were: MBIA ( MBI), up 18.3%, MGIC Investment Corporation ( MTG), up 10.3%, Radian Group ( RDN), up 7.6%, and eHealth ( EHTH), up 6.5%.

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Genworth Financial, Inc., a financial security company, provides insurance, wealth management, investment, and financial solutions in the United States and internationally. Genworth Financial has a market cap of $4.2 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.1, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 13.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are three analysts that rate Genworth Financial a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and seven rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Genworth Financial as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, attractive valuation levels and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself and poor profit margins.

• You can view the full Genworth Financial Ratings Report.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the insurance industry could consider KBW Insurance ETF ( KIE) while those bearish on the insurance industry could consider Proshares Short Financials ( SEF).

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

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