AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB): 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

AvalonBay Communities ( AVB) pushed the Financial sector lower today making it today's featured Financial laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 1.0%. By the end of trading, AvalonBay Communities fell $1.54 (-1.2%) to $130.70 on average volume. Throughout the day, 874,472 shares of AvalonBay Communities exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 953,400 shares. The stock ranged in price between $130.11-$133.26 after having opened the day at $132.50 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $132.24. Other companies within the Financial sector that declined today were: Credit Suisse ( DWTI), down 10.2%, Mid Penn Bancorp ( MPB), down 6.8%, Old Second Bancorp ( OSBC), down 6.1% and Central Federal ( CFBK), down 6.0%.

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AvalonBay Communities, Inc. engages in the development, redevelopment, acquisition, ownership, and operation of multifamily communities in the United States. AvalonBay Communities has a market cap of $17.2 billion and is part of the real estate industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 48.7, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 2.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 6 analysts that rate AvalonBay Communities a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 9 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates AvalonBay Communities as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, revenue growth, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full AvalonBay Communities Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Imperial Holdings ( IFT), down 40.5%, Credit Suisse ( DGAZ), down 17.9%, Impac Mortgage Holdings ( IMH), down 9.9% and Credit Suisse ( UWTI), down 9.9% , were all gainers within the financial sector with Berkshire Hathaway ( BRK.B) 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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