Sales and profit jump for Idexx

Article Excerpt

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $154 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 87.3 million; Market cap: $13.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 7.2; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.idexx.com) gets about 85% of its revenue from equipment that veterinarians use to detect diseases in pets. The remaining 15% comes from systems that detect contaminants in livestock and water. The company continues to see strong demand for its diagnostic equipment and related supplies. In the second quarter of 2017, its sales rose 9.1%, to $508.9 million from $466.7 million a year earlier. Earnings per share jumped 28.4%, to $0.95 from $0.74. However, that includes an $0.08-a-share gain due to a change in accounting rules. Idexx expects its 2017 sales, excluding acquisitions, will rise 10% to 11%. It also expects to earn between $3.12 and $3.22 a share. Strong gains have helped the company’s share price rise 38% in the past year. Idexx now trades at a high 48.6 times the midpoint…