Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat: Can I have your opinion of Stamps.com? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Stamps.com, $250.70, symbol STMP on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 17.9 million; Market cap: $4.5 billion; www.stamps.com), is the leading provider of online postage and shipping software, with over 725,000 customers. Those clients mainly use its Internet-based services to mail and ship postcards, envelopes, flats and packages. They are sent out under a wide range of United States Postal Service (USPS) mail classes, including First Class Mail, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Media Mail, Parcel Select and others. Stamps.com offers customers discounted postage rates compared to USPS retail prices on certain mail pieces such as First Class letters, and domestic and international Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages. Its customers include individuals, small businesses, home offices, medium-size businesses and large enterprises. Within those segments, the company targets both mailers and shippers. In addition, it offers multi-carrier shipping solutions under the brand names ShipStation, ShipWorks, and Endicia. Stamps.com revenue has soared 305.1% over the last five years, which reflects its acquisitions but also the growth…