Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP): Today's Featured Computer Software & Services Loser

By TheStreet Wire - 04/26/12 - 5:01 PM EDT
Tickers in this article: CHKP

Check Point Software Technologies (CHKP) pushed the Computer Software & Services industry lower today making it today's featured Computer Software & Services loser. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.6%. By the end of trading, Check Point Software Technologies fell $1.16 (-1.9%) to $58.71 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.2 million shares of Check Point Software Technologies exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.5 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $58.59-$60.14 after having opened the day at $59.71 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $59.87. Other company's within the Computer Software & Services industry that declined today were: Vasco Data Security International (VDSI), down 22.1%, Innovative Solutions & Support (ISSC), down 13.8%, Vringo (VRNG), down 8.2%, and Morningstar (MORN), down 7.5%.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. develops, markets, and supports a range of software, and combined hardware and software products and services for information technology (IT) security worldwide. Check Point Software Technologies has a market cap of $12.34 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.6, below the average computer software & services industry P/E ratio of 23.5 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 14% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate Check Point Software Technologies a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and seven rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Check Point Software Technologies as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, revenue growth and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

On the positive front, Recon Technology (RCON), up 21.4%, SolarWinds (SWI), up 20%, Citrix Systems (CTXS), up 12.4%, and Parametric Technology Corporation (PMTC), up 10.2%, were all gainers within the computer software & services industry with VMWare (VMW) being today's featured computer software & services industry winner.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the computer software & services industry could consider iShares S&P NA Tech Software Idx (IGV) while those bearish on the computer software & services industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Technology (REW).

Tickers in this article: CHKP