Abaxis - Aggressive Growth
02 7월 2012 - 9:00AM
Zacks
Abaxis (ABAX) has witnessed a consistent rise in its stock
price during the past year and delivered a positive earnings
surprise of 23% in the most recent quarter. Given the long-term
growth projection of about 15%, along with an uptrend in earnings
estimates, this manufacturer of portable medical and veterinary
blood analysis systems became a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stock on
June 28, 2012.
Abaxis Exited Fiscal 2012 on a High Note
On April 26, 2012, Abaxis reported a 40% year-over-year increase
in its fiscal fourth quarter 2012 earnings to 21 cents per share,
beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 17 cents by more than 23%.
For the full year, earnings came in at 58 cents, down 9% from 64
cents in the prior year, but marginally ahead of the Zacks
Consensus Estimate of 54 cents.
Net sales during the quarter increased 14% year over year to
$42.7 million and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4%. The
year-over-year growth was based on higher sales in both North
America (up 16% to $35.4 million) and in the international market
(up 5% to $7.3 million). For the full year, sales increased 9% over
the prior year to $156.6 million.
Fourth-quarter revenues from the veterinary market (contributing
80% to the top line) increased 19% to $34.1 million, while revenues
from the medical market (contributing 18%) remained almost flat
year over year at $7.6 million.
Earnings Estimates on the Rise
In response to the strong fourth quarter performance, earnings
estimates moved up over the last 60 days. The Zacks Consensus
Estimate for fiscal 2013 has risen 2.4% to 86 cents per share,
representing year-over-year growth of more than 47%. For fiscal
2014, the Zacks Consensus Estimate increased 4.6% to $1.14 per
share, reflecting growth of 32.7%.
Stretched Valuation
Abaxis’ valuation looks stretched compared to its peers by most
metrics. Based on 2013 earnings estimates, the company is trading
at a P/E of 41.4x, which is almost 3 times the peer group average
of 13.8x. The price-to-book ratio of 4.8x is also substantially
higher than the peer group average of 2.4x. We consider the premium
to be warranted given its higher long-term earnings growth rate
(15%) compared to the industry average (12%).
All said, shares look pretty impressive with a return on
investment (ROI) of 8.2%, which is much better than the peer group
average of 2.6% and a return on asset (ROA) of 7.3%.
Chart Reflects Growth Potential
Abaxis’ stock price performance has been reasonably strong with
the chart showing an upward trend over the past few months. Except
for some minor pullbacks, shares have fared relatively better since
October 2011 than the simple moving average for 200 and 50 days, or
SMA 200 and SMA 50. The one-year return for the stock is noteworthy
at 25.4% compared to the meager 2.7% return from the S&P 500
index.
Founded in 1989, Abaxis, Inc., with a market cap of $777
million, deals in portable blood analysis systems for use in the
human (Piccolo Xpress) or veterinary (VetScan VS2) patient-care
setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent
measurements. The blood analysis system consists of a compact
portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic discs (reagent
discs), containing all the chemicals required to perform a panel of
up to 14 tests on human patients and 13 tests on veterinary
patients. Headquartered in California, Abaxis provides routine
laboratory testing as well as specialty testing for veterinarians
nationwide through its AVRL division.
ABAXIS INC (ABAX): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Abaxis, Inc. (delisted) (NASDAQ:ABAX)
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부터 6월(6) 2024 으로 7월(7) 2024
Abaxis, Inc. (delisted) (NASDAQ:ABAX)
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부터 7월(7) 2023 으로 7월(7) 2024