BCR: This Medical Supplier is Growing 18% a Year!

CR Bard Inc (BCR) Hoteliers and retailers may struggle when the economy dampens, but many medical stocks tend to hold up in good times and bad. An operation, for instance, can't wait. So hospitals need to have catheters, stents and other gear on hand. That helps provide surgical equipment makers, drug makers and other medical stocks a stable earnings and sales stream ? which long-term investors prefer. This company fits the mold. This Murray Hill, N.J.-based company develops catheters, ultrasound devices, stents, biopsy devices and other specialty surgical gear. The Foley catheter, which Bard co-developed with Dr. Frederick Foley, a surgeon, and started selling in 1934, is still its best-selling urology product. It's since expanded its product line and diversified into nonurologic areas as well. Its biggest 2007 sales came from: urology 30%, oncology 25%, vascular 24% and surgical specialties 17%. Though the U.S. accounted for more than half of its sales last year, Bard has customers in Europe, Japan and other global spots. Annual profit has risen for at least the past eight years. A five-year earnings per share growth rate of 18%. Wall Street analysts expect earnings to grow 15% this year and 14% the next. They see Q2 profit rising 16% to $1.08 a share when Bard reports this week. The company has met or beaten estimates the past 13 quarters. The stock marked a record high Jan. 16 and pulled back 16% over the next five months. It may be shaping the right side of a base. Good Trading!