Ameriprise Financial Inc (AMP): Today's Featured Financial 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

Ameriprise Financial ( AMP) pushed the Financial sector lower today making it today's featured Financial laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, Ameriprise Financial fell $0.99 (-1.3%) to $72.65 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1,683,635 shares of Ameriprise Financial exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1,501,200 shares. The stock ranged in price between $72.57-$73.98 after having opened the day at $73.79 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $73.64. Other companies within the Financial sector that declined today were: Pathfinder Bancorp ( PBHC), down 17.5%, China Ceramics ( CCCL), down 12.7%, PSB Holdings ( PSBH), down 8.5% and First United ( FUNC), down 7.5%.

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Ameriprise Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. Ameriprise Financial has a market cap of $14.7 billion and is part of the financial services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.2, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 17.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Ameriprise Financial as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, revenue growth, expanding profit margins, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Ameriprise Financial Ratings Report.

On the positive front, FBR ( FBRC), down 11.6%, Broadway Financial ( BYFC), down 11.2%, Credit Suisse ( UWTI), down 9.8% and WVS Financial ( WVFC), down 8.6% , were all gainers within the financial sector with U.S. Bancorp ( USB) being today's featured financial sector leader.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the financial sector could consider Financial Select Sector SPDR ( XLF) while those bearish on the financial sector could consider Proshares Short Financials ( SEF).

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

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