Watch List Profile: Amedisys, Inc.
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
http://www.amedisys.com/
Amedisys provides at-home health services to Medicare beneficiaries recovering from surgery and/or are living with a disability or illness.
The company is staffed by healthcare professionals, including registered and practical nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, social workers, homemakers and health aids, among others.
Amedisys offers home care for patients with chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease and failure, surgical recovery, complex wound care and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
At the end of 2006, the company operated 261 Medicare-certified home health agencies in 19 southern and southwestern states. The company also offers patient care to terminally ill patients at 14 Medicare-certified hospices. The company opened or acquired 36 home health agencies and 2 hospice agencies in 2006 alone.
Amedisys reliably cares for shareholders as well. Revenues were up by nearly 42% to $541 million in 2006 from $382 million in 2005. Best of all, earnings per share have been steadily increasing, to $1.71 in 2006 from $1.13 in 2004. Earnings appear to be on track to hit over $2.00 this year. Best of all, the stock appears to be a relative bargain, trading at a P/E ratio of around 20X earnings, well below the industry average of 25X.
About the Author
Ian Wyatt is a co-founder and President of Business Financial Publishing and the Chief Investment Strategist and Publisher of SmallCapInvestor.com.
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