InvestorsHub Logo
Followers 468
Posts 26893
Boards Moderated 2
Alias Born 09/11/2006

Re: surf1944 post# 58

Friday, 01/18/2013 10:28:23 AM

Friday, January 18, 2013 10:28:23 AM

Post# of 155
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (ALXN)
By TheStreet Wire 01/18/13 - 09:00 AM EST
Find out if (ALXN) is in Cramer's Portfolio.
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.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ALXN) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of B . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and impressive record of earnings per share growth. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass
Highlights from the ratings report include:

The revenue growth greatly exceeded the industry average of 5.4%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 44.1%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
ALXN's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.09 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 3.36, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS INC has improved earnings per share by 35.3% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past year. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS INC increased its bottom line by earning $0.91 versus $0.53 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($2.05 versus $0.91).
The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has greatly exceeded that of the S&P 500, but is less than that of the Biotechnology industry average. The net income increased by 40.6% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $65.57 million to $92.18 million.
The gross profit margin for ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS INC is currently very high, coming in at 90.80%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 31.33% is above that of the industry average.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of biologic therapeutic products in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Alexion has a market cap of $19.08 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 86.9, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 4.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.