$23.18 0.11 (+0.48%)
11/6/2009 4:00 PM

VCA Antech, Inc. (WOOF)

CAPS Rating: 4 out of 5

An animal healthcare services company operating in the United States, provides veterinary services and diagnostic testing to support veterinary care and sell diagnostic imaging equipment and other medical technology products and related services.

Current Price $23.18 Mkt Cap $1.97B
Open $22.95 P/E Ratio 14.51
Prev. Close $23.07 Div. (Yield) N/A (N/A)
Daily Range $22.73 - $23.28 Volume 474,163
52-Wk Range $14.17 - $27.99 Avg. Daily Vol. 757,000

WOOF News and Commentary

Caps

How do you think WOOF will perform vs the S&P 500?

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All Members

228 Outperform
13 Underperform
 

All-Star Members

65 Outperform
2 Underperform
 

Wall Street

7 Outperform
1 Underperform
 

Top WOOF Bull/Bear Pitches

The best Bull and Bear pitches based on recency and number of recommendations.

floyd19 (< 20)
Submitted June 17, 2008

I am a veterinarian, I own VCA stock, but do not work for VCA. I have read many accounts, blogs, etc on the topic of veterinary stocks being recession proof. All of the authors discuss how fluffy's care will never be sacrificed due to money.
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WOOF VS S&P 500 (SPY)

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Recent Community Commentary

Read the most recent pitches from members about WOOF.

Recs

0
Member Avatar reeshau (82.17) Submitted: 11/3/2009 12:37:34 PM : Outperform Start Price: $23.83 WOOF Score: -5.28

I have been watching WOOF for several years, and it never seemed to dip into a buy range; the price was very steady through many climates. It seems that now may be a rare opportunity, because of flat growth related to the recession. The stock is within pennies of Morningstar's 5-star range. (wish I had more cash back when it was $14, but I got some other good buys then)

WOOF is a large player in a fragmented market, which is a classic way for a grower in a boring business. (see: Sysco, Fastenal) By applying their operating efficiencies to businesses they purchase, they gain profit without investing in greenfield growth. With just over 5% of the market (by office count) there is a long way to go here. Vet offices are largely small businesses, with single or a few owners who are looking to sell when they retire. Their options are either younger vets, or WOOF. With financing difficult in the next few years and deteriorating business conditions, I expect there will be more people looking to get out than to get in.

Downsides / risks:
WOOF needs to watch out if they are at the beginning of a growth cycle. They overpaid a decade ago, but have done very well since emerging again as a public company in 2001.

The big pet retailers could also pose a threat, with in-store clinical care. Of course, this could be an M&A opportunity as much as a threat. I think people also are drawn to a smaller setting for their pet's doctor than for supplies or grooming. Even if they went this way, however, the market could sustain a few large players and keep consolidating.

Recs

0
Member Avatar latimerburned (80.82) Submitted: 9/29/2009 12:28:27 PM : Outperform Start Price: $26.83 WOOF Score: -14.61

I nice little growth company in the animal heath sector. They grow almost entirely by snatching up small animal hospitals. Also have a very high margin diagnostic business that is very complimentary to the hospital business.

Recs

0
Member Avatar kingkarg (< 20) Submitted: 9/19/2009 1:12:18 PM : Outperform Start Price: $25.88 WOOF Score: -10.91

Veterinary services are a rock -for many households, non-discretionary spending. The future dynamic of veterinary hospitals is successful, retiring veterinarians with only a large corporation to sell their practice, since the young debt-strapped recent graduates can't afford to buy it.

Leaderboard

Find the members with the highest scoring picks in WOOF.

Score Leader

ToddMCTC

ToddMCTC (94.51) Score: +35.58

The Score Leader is the member with the highest score across all their picks in WOOF.

Top
Pick
Member Name Member
Rating
Start
Date
Call Time
Frame
Start
Price
Stock
Gain
S&P
Gain
Score Commentary
stoccato 42.58 10/9/2006 Underperform 1Y $35.19 -34.13% -15.68% +18.45
Newt805 < 20 10/1/2008 Underperform 5Y $29.17 -20.53% -3.91% +16.62
Psychebooks 95.22 10/28/2008 Outperform 5Y $16.94 +36.84% +20.84% +15.99
Bigsef77 < 20 8/20/2009 Underperform 3M $25.30 -8.38% +6.72% +15.10
scarabelli 74.29 10/16/2006 Underperform 1Y $33.15 -30.08% -16.70% +13.37
JOHOMarlena 28.96 7/10/2007 Underperform 1Y $37.92 -38.87% -25.95% +12.92
Joe1962 < 20 2/6/2008 Underperform 3M $32.48 -28.63% -17.04% +11.59
pishposhjosh < 20 2/5/2008 Underperform NS $32.49 -28.65% -17.96% +10.70
gandalf18 91.81 11/14/2006 Underperform 1Y $32.17 -27.95% -18.18% +9.77
SpeaktotheWolf < 20 12/11/2008 Outperform 3Y $17.84 +29.93% +22.74% +7.19

Wall Street

See what the Wall Street professionals think, according to their public statements and filings.

Member Name Member
Rating
Start
Date
Call Time
Frame
Start
Price
Stock
Gain
S&P
Gain
Score End Date Commentary
TrackSunTrustRH 89.33 6/25/2009 Outperform NS $25.88 -10.43% +20.05% -30.48
TrackJefferies 75.83 9/30/2008 Underperform NS $28.97 -27.55% -26.64% +0.90 2/13/2009 @ $20.99
TrackWayneRogers < 20 2/15/2008 Outperform 3M $32.52 -28.72% -17.38% -11.34
TrackDodgeCox 86.63 12/31/2007 Outperform NS $44.23 -32.35% -7.10% -25.26 6/13/2008 @ $29.92 1 Comment
TrackCLKing < 20 12/5/2007 Outperform NS $41.05 -43.53% -24.11% -19.42
TrackRonBaron < 20 9/30/2007 Outperform NS $41.75 -44.48% -26.44% -18.04 1 Comment
TrackJefferies 75.83 7/27/2007 Outperform NS $41.19 -29.67% -23.64% -6.03 9/30/2008 @ $28.97
TrackScottBleier 63.76 1/13/2007 Outperform 3M $33.70 -31.22% -20.55% -10.66
TrackJPMorgan 78.71 1/5/2007 Outperform NS $31.77 -27.04% -19.54% -7.49
TrackRyanBeck 61.95 11/28/2006 Outperform NS $31.34 -26.04% -17.75% -8.29
TrackJimCramer < 20 11/17/2006 Underperform 3W $31.71 -26.90% -18.82% +8.08

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