NetApp Inc. (NTAP): Today's Featured Computer Hardware Winner

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.

NetApp ( NTAP) pushed the Computer Hardware industry higher today making it today's featured computer hardware winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, NetApp rose $0.56 (1.2%) to $45.45 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5,775,462 shares of NetApp exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4,017,700 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $44.80-$45.70 after having opened the day at $44.96 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $44.89. Other companies within the Computer Hardware industry that increased today were: Super Micro Computer ( SMCI), up 24.2%, Echelon Corporation ( ELON), up 12.6%, Electronics for Imaging ( EFII), up 5.8% and Silicon Graphics International ( SGI), up 4.5%.

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NetApp, Inc. engages in design, manufacture, and marketing of networked storage solutions. The company supplies enterprise storage and data management software and hardware products and services. NetApp has a market cap of $15.2 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 27.8, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate NetApp a buy, 2 analysts rate it a sell, and 14 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates NetApp 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, good cash flow from operations and expanding profit margins. 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 NetApp Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Interphase ( INPH), down 6.9%, Qumu ( QUMU), down 4.8%, Radisys Corporation ( RSYS), down 4.4% and Nimble Storage ( NMBL), down 3.6% , were all laggards within the computer hardware industry with International Business Machines ( IBM) being today's computer hardware industry laggard.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the computer hardware industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Technology ( IYW) while those bearish on the computer hardware industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Semiconductor ( SSG).