IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $89 - Nasdaq symbol IDXX

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $89 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 55.1 million; Market cap: $4.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.0; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.idexx.com) earned $2.78 a share in 2011, up 17.3% from $2.37 in 2010. Revenue rose 10.4%, to $1.2 billion from $1.1 billion.

Sales of the company’s Pro-Cyte Dx hematology analyzer, which processes animal blood tests in just two minutes, continue to rise. This device cuts veterinarians’ reliance on external labs and lowers their costs. Demand is also increasing in overseas markets. For example, Idexx recently received approval to market this device in Japan.

Idexx feels that its revenue will rise by 7% to 8% in 2012. However, the stock trades at 29.0 times the company’s likely 2012 earnings of $3.07 a share. That high p/e ratio makes the stock vulnerable to a sudden drop if Idexx fails to meet its revenue or earnings growth targets.

Idexx is a hold.

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