Future looks bright for McKesson

Article Excerpt

MCKESSON CORP. $60 (New York symbol MCK; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 261.5 million; Market cap: $15.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.2; Dividend yield: 1.2%; WSSF Rating: Average) is the largest wholesale drug distributor in the U.S. and Canada. It also owns 49% of Mexico’s largest drug distributor. McKesson’s customers include 40,000 pharmacies, as well as doctor’s offices, hospitals and clinics. The company also supplies surgical tools and health and beauty products. McKesson’s revenue rose 25.0%, from $87.0 billion in 2006 to $108.7 billion in 2010 (fiscal years end March 31). Earnings rose at a much faster pace of 69.7%, from $737 million in 2006 to $1.3 billion in 2010. The company is an aggressive buyer of its own shares, so earnings per share rose 95.7%, from $2.34 in 2006 to $4.58 in 2010. Big profits from drug management A big part of McKesson’s strong earnings growth came from its technology-solutions division, which makes computers and software that help pharmacies and clinics…