Topic: How To Invest

Q: Dear Pat: I am thinking about purchasing some shares of Chemed (NYSE: CHE). Would it be a good idea? Best regards.

Article Excerpt

A: Chemed Corp., $330.40, symbol CHE on New York (Shares outstanding: 15.9 million; Market cap: $5.3 billion; www.chemed.com), operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter. The two subsidiaries are in distinctly different businesses and are completely separate in their operations. VITAS is the largest provider of end-of-life hospice services in the U.S., and Roto-Rooter is the nation’s leading provider of plumbing and drain-clearing services. Providing daily hospice care, VITAS serves more than 17,000 patients with severe, life-limiting illness. This type of care is focused on making the terminally ill patient’s final days as comfortable and pain-free as possible. It employs a network of physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, clergy and volunteers. Completely separate, Roto-Rooter relies on a network of company-owned branches, independent contractors and franchisees to provide its plumbing, drain cleaning, and water restoration services throughout the U.S. and Canada. That business also has licensed master franchisees in the Philippines, and the republics of Indonesia and Singapore. Chemed’s revenue has grown slowly,…