High p/e ratio weighs on Idexx

Article Excerpt

IDEXX LABORATORIES INC. $88 (Nasdaq symbol IDXX; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 56.9 million; Market cap: $5.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.9; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.idexx.com) gets 80% of its revenue by making equipment that veterinarians use to detect diseases in pets. The company also makes systems that detect contaminants in livestock and water (20% of revenue). It sells its products in over 100 countries. In the three months ended June 30, 2012, Idexx earned $51.3 million. That’s up 5.5% from $48.7 million a year earlier. The company spent $27.4 million on share repurchases in the latest quarter. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 9.6%, to $0.91 from $0.83. Revenue rose 5.6%, to $335.6 million from $317.9 million. The company’s Pro-Cyte Dx hematology analyzer continues to sell well. This device processes animal blood tests in just two minutes. That makes veterinarians less reliant on outside labs and lowers their costs. Sales of pet-testing equipment…