Landauer, Inc. (NYSE:LDR)

northhill (< 20) Submitted: 3/14/2008 11:52:42 PM : Start Price: $41.82 LDR Score: +9.02

Except for government installations, this company has the lock on radiation dosimetry (radiation exposure per person) in the US, Japan, Brazil. It has the low cost proprietary methodology. Every person who works in a medical facility who receives any radiation exposure will be seen wearing a Landauer badge. It signs new contracts yearly; the quarter to quarter earnings are pretty much level over the year. It has little debt. Its sideline is its radon measuring kits in home sales. It has competitors here and we know where home sales are now, but this represents a piddling part of LDR's income stream. This is a steady eddie dividend stock. Some recent shortfalls in quarterly earnings were attributed to overhauling internal information systems, which should enhance margins going forward. This is a BORING stock. Nonetheless, I've owned it for 15 years and have been unable to sell it, when I look at its year to year performance vs other more exciting stocks in my portfolio. LDR increases its dividend yearly, like clockwork. Until doctors quilt ordering CT scans and xrays or until a new, cheaper, superior technology hits the marketplace, this company will thrive. Heck, buy this one for your mother-in-law.