On Jun 22, we issued an updated research report on IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. IDXX. The company’s robust worldwide commercial capabilities and best-in-class products including the next-generation chemistry analyzer, Catalyst One, are key growth drivers over the near term. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Over the past three months, this leading molecular diagnostic company has outperformed its industry. The stock has increased 12.9% against the industry’s 12.4% decrease.
Notably, IDEXX continues to demonstrate strong organic growth, driven by robust sales at the Companion Animal Group (CAG) business, fueled by a firm global Catalyst uptake.
International revenues in the first quarter of 2018 were up 11% organically, driven by 13% organic gains in international CAG Diagnostics recurring revenues. This reflected continued consumable revenue gains, supported by Catalyst instrument base, increased average testing utilization and sturdy growth in European lab revenues.
The companion animal market fundamentals remain safe and sound with tremendous global runway for growth. Additionally, we are upbeat about the company’s expanding premium instrument base in the United States as well as the international markets including growth in competitive instrument placements, increasing utilization and a consistent customer retention.
IDEXX’s innovation-based, multi-modality global strategy, enabled by enhanced commercial capability, accelerated recurring CAG Diagnostics revenue growth in the reported quarter. Moreover, the company’s healthy top-line growth was driven by considerable contributions from its rest of the business segments. A raised EPS guidance for 2018 was also encouraging.
Additionally, the company boasts a strong cash balance, allowing it to carry out share repurchases.
Meanwhile, a majority of IDEXX’s consolidated revenues is being derived from the sale of products in the international markets. Thus, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar’s exchange rate, relative to other currencies, had a negative impact on revenues derived in currencies other than the U.S. money as well as on profits drawn from products manufactured in the United States and sold internationally. For 2018, adverse currency translations affected adjusted earnings per share to the tune of 4 cents. Also, the company’s heavy dependence on third-party distributors is a drag.
Other Key Picks
Other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space include Genomic Health GHDX, Abiomed ABMD and Stryker Corp. SYK.
Genomic Health has an expected earnings growth rate of 187.5% for the current quarter. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Abiomed has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 27% and a Zacks Rank of 1.
Stryker has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 9.7%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
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