Sector WatchSector Watch: Health-care information stocksCaps on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement are requiring health-care providers to manage costs more effectively, spurring demand for software systems marketed by MedAssets (Nasdaq:MDAS) and Quality Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:QSII). Sector Watch: Medical equipment stocksWith medical equipment stocks up about 6.3% year-to-date, manufacturers Somanetics Corporation (Nasdaq:SMTS) and CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE:CRY) both have unusually clean bills of health in today’s market. Sector Watch: Business software stocksWith the advent of the Internet, the world may seem small, but the market for protecting it is vast, which bodes well for Integral Systems (Nasdaq:ISYS) and Mantech International Corporation (Nasdaq:MANT). Industrial equipment stocks ride oil waveCompanies that manufacture drilling equipment are gushing earnings because of drilling activity fueled by record oil prices. T-3 Energy Services, Inc. and Circor International are two small caps riding the wave. Sector Watch: Precision instrument stocksPrecision is important in any business endeavor -- just ask Axsys Technologies (Nasdaq:AXYS), Argon ST (Nasdaq:STST) and Badger Meter Inc. (NYSE:BMI). Sector Watch: Home health-care stocksMany of today’s elderly, disabled or ailing may not choose to spend countless months in hospitals or clinics. Now they have the option of in-home care by companies including Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM), Gentiva Health Services Inc. (Nasdaq:GTIV) and LHC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:LHCG). Sector Watch: Biotech stocksBiotechnology investments often offer big risks, but huge potential rewards. New drugs, such as ones in development by Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) and ChemGenex (Nasdaq:CXSP), can provide multi-billion dollar payoffs once sales commence. Sector Watch: Coal stocksWhile much attention is focused on soaring oil, coal has followed a similar trajectory with prices up more than 60% this year, benefiting James River Coal Company (Nasdaq:JRCC) and National Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:NCOC). Sector Watch: Drug delivery stocksTwo relatively recent entrants into the war on prescription drugs are Acura Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ACUR) and Columbia Laboratories (Nasdaq:CBRX). Sector Watch: Waste management stocksIf the state of the current market has you down in the dumps, look no further than waste management companies American Ecology Corp. (Nasdaq:ECOL) and Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CWST).
|
|
