Idexx still looks pricey

Article Excerpt

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $458 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 81.3 million; Market cap: $37.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 9.8; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.idexx.com) makes equipment that veterinarians use to detect disease in animals. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Idexx’s sales rose 5.8%, to $954.3 million from $901.6 million a year earlier. That’s due to stronger demand for new diagnostic equipment and higher selling prices. If you exclude unusual items, earnings improved 10.5%, to $2.53 a share from $2.29. The company now expects to earn between $11.74 and $12.24 a share in 2025. The stock trades at 38.2 times the midpoint of that range. The high p/e increases the risk of a big drop if Idexx’s sales and earnings growth stall. Idexx Laboratories is a hold. hold…