News Corporation (NWS): Today's Featured Media 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.

News Corporation ( NWS) pushed the Media industry lower today making it today's featured Media laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.4%. By the end of trading, News Corporation fell 58 cents (-1.9%) to $30 on average volume. Throughout the day, 3.1 million shares of News Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of three million shares. The stock ranged in price between $29.68-$30.64 after having opened the day at $30.48 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $30.58. Other companies within the Media industry that declined today were: Point.360 ( PTSX), down 11.6%, Millennial Media ( MM), down 8.1%, YOU On Demand Holdings ( YOD), down 7.7%, and Inuvo ( INUV), down 5.5%.

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News Corporation operates as a diversified media company worldwide. News Corporation has a market cap of $24.59 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 17.8, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 16.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are two analysts that rate News Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and none rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates News Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its compelling growth in net income, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, solid stock price performance and good cash flow from operations. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results.

• You can view the full News Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Entravision Communications Corporation ( EVC), up 6.8%, AirMedia Group ( AMCN), up 5%, Dolan ( DM), up 4.6%, and Insignia Systems ( ISIG), up 3.5%, were all gainers within the media industry with Cablevision Systems ( CVC) being today's featured media industry leader.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the media industry could consider PowerShares Dynamic Media ( PBS) while those bearish on the media industry could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Services ( SCC).

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

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