Legg Mason Inc. (LM): Today's Featured Financial Laggard

Legg Mason ( LM) pushed the Financial sector lower today making it today's featured Financial laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.3%. By the end of trading, Legg Mason fell $0.37 (-1.2%) to $30.63 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1,599,523 shares of Legg Mason exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1,652,100 shares. The stock ranged in price between $30.56-$31.35 after having opened the day at $31.14 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $31.00. Other companies within the Financial sector that declined today were: Credit Suisse ( DOIL), down 12.4%, Elbit Imaging ( EMITF), down 10.6%, Credit Suisse ( DGAZ), down 9.2% and Severn Bancorp ( SVBI), down 7.3%.

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Legg Mason, Inc. provides asset management and related financial services to institutional and individual clients, company-sponsored mutual funds, and other pooled investment vehicles worldwide. Legg Mason has a market cap of $3.9 billion and is part of the financial services industry. Shares are up 20.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 3 analysts that rate Legg Mason a buy, 3 analysts rate it a sell, and 7 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Legg Mason as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its good cash flow from operations and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

You can view the full Legg Mason Ratings Report.

On the positive front, National Bank of Greece ( NBG), up 19.8%, First Marblehead Corporation ( FMD), up 16.3%, Altis Resident ( RESI), up 15.1% and PMC Commercial ( PCC), up 14.9% , were all gainers within the financial sector with Allstate ( ALL) 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).