Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (NYSE:MTD)

wooderino (95.76) Submitted: 10/27/2009 12:35:37 PM : Start Price: $91.89 MTD Score: +71.36

Showed up on a screen for solid 5 year growth with low debt, cash on hand and still at attractive P/E ratios.

SequoiaStocks (87.90) Submitted: 9/18/2009 10:22:05 AM : Start Price: $92.50 MTD Score: +69.77

This account tracks the performance of the investment firm Ruane, Cunniff, and Goldfarb - the investment manager of Sequoia Fund.

WF2005 (53.04) Submitted: 4/9/2009 10:59:01 AM : Start Price: $54.87 MTD Score: +170.10

TMF Personalized pick-of-the-day

tom42A (39.62) Submitted: 11/8/2008 8:28:41 AM : Start Price: $77.50 MTD Score: +88.87

Steady top and bottom line growth over the last decade. Strong position in its markt of precision weighing and measurement equipment. Storngly grwoing in Asian markets, and defending its already dominant position in Europe and North America well.

handoverhill (< 20) Submitted: 5/1/2008 7:50:12 AM : Start Price: $95.75 MTD Score: -88.83

Mettler Toledo International will have to do a lot of work because it has been well below it's 50-day moving average and it's income for 2007 was up $200 move then 2006. It is one that can put on the watch list.

antichrononology (< 20) Submitted: 2/22/2008 2:55:07 AM : Start Price: $102.33 MTD Score: -73.27

Right now this is a nice stock. Sales rising , it is benifitting from exchange rates. All looks rosey.... for the short haul. This is a nice play. Beyond a year I would be VERY wary of this stock... its Long Term Debt to equity is starting to creep up. Not a problem right now, but if the exchange rates fluctuate? It gives one pause. There are a few warning signs behind the flush so be careful.if your long... this might well be a LONG ride down.
A few things to think about:

91% of this stock is held by institutions. That means that when the party is over its really over. Right now they are basically exchanging among themselves. If they start selling...

Every indicator shows a company making money hand over fist, and yet inventory turnover is slowing to a crawl and debt is rising. If sales and profits continue rising then all is well. If things slow down the inefficiency plus added debt spells disaster.

Finally, although it has not really started moving because of the lack of available shares, the short interest is starting to creep in. With over 90 percent institutional interest... its hedge fund heaven.

I hope for all concerned I am wrong, but I believe this ride is about over and it is time to check all your belongs, leave in an orderly fashion, we hope you enjoyed the ride.

sforce2 (41.16) Submitted: 11/12/2007 11:11:11 PM : Start Price: $114.45 MTD Score: +61.44

Strong earnings and ina good sector. Demand will continue to grow.

SESAMEnow (92.64) Submitted: 11/4/2007 10:37:53 PM : Start Price: $110.39 MTD Score: +70.02

They sell good balances for Laboratories.

qhorse13 (47.75) Submitted: 8/25/2007 11:49:35 AM : Start Price: $96.60 MTD Score: +91.85

many poeple dont really know it but this stock is military reasearch based. I almost guarentee it will grow stronger

Arnoldrkelly (97.89) Submitted: 5/16/2007 10:26:39 AM : Start Price: $97.99 MTD Score: +90.77

Solid growth and cash flow

pigsfeet007 (90.08) Submitted: 2/11/2007 2:15:16 PM : Start Price: $89.91 MTD Score: +103.11

Zacks -

13 straight positive earnings surprise quarters.

Background Mettler-Toledo is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications. The company focuses on the high value-added segments of the weighing instruments market by providing solutions for specific applications. MTD also manufactures and sells certain related laboratory measurement instruments, with one of the top three market positions worldwide in titrators, thermal analysis systems, pH meters and lab reactors.

Full Analysis

Mettler-Toledo reported earnings for the Sep 2006 quarter on Nov 2. MTD announced EPS at $1.10 for the quarter, compared with 72 cents in the same quarter last year. The result was also a positive 36% surprise above the consensus earnings estimate. In fact, MTD has a habit of delivering positive earnings surprises, having done so the last 13 straight quarters.

Technical Analysis

For the year, MTD is up a rather modest (compared to most Momentum stocks) 35% while the S&P 500 is up only about 10.5%. This, too, is in character for MTD, as it has outperformed the general market for the last three full years.

Anyone who questions the continued effect of a positive earnings surprise should look at MTD. When the company reported Sep earnings, the stock gapped higher into six-year highs the next day, and closed 10% higher at $74.90 on heavy volume. On Nov 8, MTD again closed at a new high of $76.67 on very heavy trading volume.

In yesterday’s Momentum column we talked a bit about acceleration gaps and how important they are to the Momentum trader. Looking at the chart of MTD again illustrates this. The current uptrend in MTD is now over four years old. Yet powerful positive earnings surprises and explosive market action give proof that the best is yet to come.