These top picks target key medical needs

Article Excerpt

The pandemic presented both of these firms with unique challenges. However, each remained profitable and is well positioned to keep prospering as the economy rebounds. Trends now underway—as well as the strong position of these firms in key markets—will power their gains. Both are buys. STERIS PLC, $227.61, is a buy. The firm (New York symbol STE; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.steris.com; Shares outstanding: 98.8 million; Market cap: $22.2 billion; Dividend yield: 0.9%) sells sterilization equipment, surgical tables, and other products and services used in hospitals and laboratories. Steris operates in four segments: Healthcare (65% of revenues), Applied Sterilization Technologies (17%), Life Sciences (11%), and Dental (7%). Although based in the U.K., the company generates about 75% of its revenue in the U.S. market. In the three months ended December 31, 2023, revenue rose 14.8%, to $1.40 billion from $1.22 billion a year earlier. The increase was mostly due to 19% higher sales for the Healthcare unit. Excluding one-time items, earnings in the quarter moved up…