Laboratory Corp. of America (LabCorp) (LH, Financial) operates as a diversified global life sciences company through two segments: LabCorp Diagnostics and Covance Drug Development. Following a choppy 2016 third quarter, LabCorp’s fourth quarter operating results resumed a more normal course. Test volumes rebounded at LabCorp Diagnostics, as did new clinical trial bookings at Covance. The company closed the year on a high note, with sales increasing 11% and cash earnings per share up 12% versus the prior year. Underlying clinical lab trends remain stable and the pace of clinical research outsourcing continues to be healthy. Anticipated cuts in Medicare reimbursement for lab tests and a gradual shift by payers toward value-based payment models are creating new, long hoped-for opportunities for LabCorp’s low cost lab network. LabCorp announced the acquisition of two valuable hospital- based labs during the first quarter and continues to see a steady flow of attractive potential ‘tuck-in’ lab acquisition opportunities. The company’s combination of durable organic growth and significant reinvestment runway remains appealing to us as long-term investors
From Weitz Funds' first-quarter 2017 Balanced Fund shareholder letter.
