High p/e ratio hurts Idexx’s appeal

Article Excerpt

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $98 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 52.5 million; Market cap: $5.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.1; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.idexx.com) gets 85% of its sales by making equipment that veterinarians use to detect diseases in pets. The remaining 15% comes from sales of systems that detect contaminants in livestock, water and dairy products. Idexx is benefiting as the improving economy encourages people to take their pets to the vet more often. That has pushed up sales of Idexx’s equipment, such as its Pro-Cyte Dx hematology analyzer, which processes animal blood tests in just two minutes. Rising equipment sales have also spurred higher demand for consumables, such as test tubes and slides, that veterinarians must constantly replenish. In the quarter ended June 30, 2013, Idexx’s revenue rose 5.0%, to $352.6 million from $335.6 million a year earlier. That’s mainly due to higher demand for consumables. The company also raised…