Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hello Pat & Team: What is your take on Patterson Companies (Nasdaq: PDCO)? Cheers.

Article Excerpt

A: Patterson Companies, $43.46, symbol PDCO on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 97.9 million; Market cap: $4.2 billion; www.pattersoncompanies.com), distributes products for the dental and animal health industries. Patterson Dental provides a wide range of one-time and limited use dental products throughout North America. That also includes other equipment, software and services used by dentists and dental laboratories. Patterson Animal Health is a leading distributor in the U.S. and U.K. of one-time and limited use veterinary supplies as well as equipment, software, diagnostic products, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. The dental business generates 43% of Patterson’s overall revenue and has a 33% share of the North American dental market. The animal health business accounts for 57% of the company’s overall revenue. It has a 25% share of the U.S. companion animal (pet) health market and 40% of the U.K.’s. Patterson Companies acquired Animal Health International in June 2015 for $1.0 billion. The acquisition doubled its veterinary business. Animal Health International is a leading animal health distribution company in…