Idexx Has Appeal, But Not At These Prices

Article Excerpt

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $112 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 30.6 million; Market cap: $3.4 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) makes equipment that veterinarians use to detect disease in pets and livestock. It also makes systems that detect contaminants in water and milk. Idexx stands to gain from increasing levels of pet ownership. Based on this trend, we’ve raised its WSSF Rating, to ‘Average’ from ‘Extra risk’. The company uses acquisitions to expand its current product lines or geographic reach. In the first half of 2007, it spent $84.4 million to buy several small firms. Foreign markets now account for a third of its revenue. Idexx’s revenue in the second quarter of 2007 rose 23.8%, to $237.0 million from $191.4 million a year earlier. The new acquisitions accounted for 9% of that rise. A writedown cut income 14.1%, to $0.67 a share (total $21.7 million) from $0.78 a share ($25.8 million). If you exclude unusual items in both…