IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE): Today's Featured Financial Laggard

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

IntercontinentalExchange ( ICE) pushed the Financial sector lower today making it today's featured Financial laggard. The sector as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, IntercontinentalExchange fell $2.25 (-1.2%) to $184.92 on light volume. Throughout the day, 206,525 shares of IntercontinentalExchange exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 705,800 shares. The stock ranged in price between $184.63-$187.98 after having opened the day at $187.05 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $187.17. Other companies within the Financial sector that declined today were: Paulson Capital ( PLCC), down 18.0%, CorEnergy Infrastructure ( CORR), down 11.8%, Atlantic Coast Financial ( ACFC), down 8.4% and Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania ( RBPAA), down 8.1%.

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IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. operates regulated global markets and clearing houses primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Brazil. IntercontinentalExchange has a market cap of $13.5 billion and is part of the financial services industry. Shares are up 49.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate IntercontinentalExchange a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates IntercontinentalExchange as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

You can view the full IntercontinentalExchange Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Altis Resident ( RESI), up 31.3%, Noah Holdings ( NOAH), up 23.9%, GAIN Capital Holdings ( GCAP), up 13.2% and Income Opportunity Realty Investors ( IOT), up 12.4% , were all gainers within the financial sector with Health Care REIT ( HCN) 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).