VCA Antech, Inc. (NASDAQ:WOOF)

Vestar is a leading international private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments with $7 billion in assets under management. The firm targets companies in the U.S. and Europe in five key industry sectors: consumer, diversified industries, healthcare, media/communication, and financial services. Vestar has been particularly active since 2006 with investments in the healthcare information services segment including its investment in MediMedia. Since the firms founding in 1988, the Vestar funds have completed more than 69 investments in companies with a total value of more than $30 billion. Vestar has operations in New York, Boston, Denver, Munich, and Paris. For more information, please visit Vestars website

This company has consistantly high ROE with a low valuation and considerable room to grow. Their market leading position in a fragmented market will help ensure further economies of scale as growth continues. The business model of acquiring new locations while growing labs internally seems an effective model. A result of this plan is the laboratory segment consititutes the primary source of excess returns at this point because of the significant goodwill in the animal hospital segment; over time they should be able to grow into the goodwill and increase overall ROE. Take advantage of temporary economic conditions to get into a company which should beat the S&P over time. This is one in my own portfolio.

Stock screen results. Using ROE, PE, LT debt/Equity, Current Ratio.

Have owned this stock for 5 years...total paper return, 40%. Not great for such a long holding period. Have used their services and was pleased, a great slow growing opportunity.

financials.you cant argue with financials.

no for real financials dont talk you cant argue with them.

with pet insurance entering the market, looks like a great opportunity to invest now.

In 6 months, I will sell my WOOF stock.

good dog! lol

I found this stock by screening Mid Cap with 25% growth in earnings per quarter.

This stock is projected by Value Line to double earnings in the next five years, has actually doubled earnings in the past five years, is selling at price-earnings multiples (P/Es) that are 110 percent or less of Value Line's projected earnings growth rate, and has a safety rating of average or better.

People love pets and they treat them like family. Not only is this stock recession proof but is also a growth story. Elderly people love pets and as people live longer and the baby boomers age, the population of pets will increase.

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.

This is not true. I see this play out on a daily basis. Many people do not bring their pets in for the yearly check up and vaccinations when money is tight. They do not purchase heartworm preventative when money is tight. People will more likely, "wait and see what happens" to fluffy when he is limping, or is vomiting. Unfortunately some wait way too long before their pet is truly sick.

One factor I have never seen written about is the owners option of euthanasia in the veterinary profession. When people have money to spend they will treat fluffy's new case of diabetes, or hospitalize when he is hit by a car. If money is tight euthanasia becomes a very real option. It is relatively inexpensive to euthanize a pet and very expensive to treat them.

Ask your veterinarian and I bet he/she will tell you the same thing. This year has been horrible. I dont care what any of the "experts" say. Medical care for fluffy is paid with discretionary income.

I am long on all of the veterinary industry stocks. I too believe that it is a growth industry. However these stocks will not turn around until the economy turns around or at least people feel like the economy is turning around.

Consistant earnings, profits and sales of 16 percent will speak for itself on this equity.

Buying in at a low. This service is highly valuable and both MSN stockscreener and CAPS seem to concur on this point

I know the industry and most of the analyst are wrong. This industry of pet animal health is rarely changed by the ecconomy. When a beloved pet is sick, money comes from somewhere to pay that bill. This is why over a billion dollars was spent last year to pay for ACL surgeries for damage dog knees. The doggy and kitty doctors are out their on a one to one basis talking to the people and the people trust them and they have a good relationship. You call your physician and you have to wait three weeks, call you vet and you get called back today. Vet's also invest in the industry buying cat scans, ultrasounds, new buildings fueling industry to change to take advantage. Check the figures they all fly high

This stock was +++ overbot. It took its hit, it's base building, and will soon be ready to make a run at 40+ again. In and out twice... 30-41... long and calls... internals look good... give it a rest in this unique field, get in at <33 and enjoy the ride.

People and their pets is enough for me. Once my friend spent 10k for back surgery for their dog. I knew there was lots of potential

Recession Proof

top mutual fund holding within portoflios in my opinion are strong to have, this one should outperform (see other selections for stronger picks in my opinion)

When it comes to pet health, money is no object