6 Genome Sequencing Stocks to Buy for Big Health-Care Profits
Market value: $2.2 billion
Genomic Health (GHDX, $59.89), as its name suggests, is a leader in genetic testing. The company achieved profitability in 2017 after years of investing heavily in its products, salesforce and international expansion. And as the company leverages the infrastructure its built, and the overall market for genomic testing grows, the setup for growth is excellent.
Genomic Health is focused exclusively on the oncology market. Its tests, which range in cost from $4,000 to $4,500, “definitely identify who does and who does not benefit from chemotherapy,” according to the company’s investor presentation. This saved the U.S. health-care system roughly $5 billion in 2017, which in turn drives insurance coverage rates for its signature Oncotype DX suite of tests for breast, colon and prostate cancers. Approximately 90% of “insured lives” are covered for Oncotype tests.
Internationally, the opportunity may be even larger. Covered lives in its current markets, which include Canada, the U.K., France and Spain, are approximately 220 million, according to company estimates. These will increase to 490 million covered lives in 2020 and beyond through increased insurance coverage in entrance into new markets., including Japan, Italy and Germany.
Revenue growth has been tepid over the past five years, growing from $263 million in 2013 to $341 million in 2017. Profitability was achieved in 2017 on an “adjusted basis,” but better is that the company has been profitable without accounting shenanigans through the first nine months of 2018. Next year may see Genomic Health capitalizing on all of the opportunities genomics offers.
CFRA analysts expect the company’s investments in its salesforce, international expansion and a new genetics division to sustain its profit growth.