Windstream: S&P Intraday Laggard

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Windstream(WIN) was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 on Thursday.

The S&P was rising 8 points Thursday to 1,362.

Shares of Windstream fell 14.03% Thursday morning to $9.68. The communications company reported first-quarter net income of $64.6 million, or 11 cents a share, up from year-earlier net income of $29.4 million, or 6 cents a share.

The earnings fell short of analysts' expectations, which on average called for profit of 14 cents a share.

Shares of Windstream hit a 52-week low on Thursday of $10.13. The stock's 52-week high of $13.57 was set on May 20.

Windstream trades at an estimated price-to-earnings ratio of 16.33 times; the average for fixed-line telecommunications companies is 32.75. For comparison, Virgin Media(VMED) has a lower forward P/E of 8.83.

Thirteen of the 18 analysts who cover Windstream rated it hold. Four analysts gave the stock a buy rating and one rated it sell.

The stock has fallen 17.38% year to date.