One of Thursday's biggest stock stars, inVentiv Health
Revenue grew 13% year over year for the pharmaceutical services provider, but operating expenses grew faster, leading to a 4% drop in operating income.
Still, if inVentiv Health can keep up the double-digit growth across all three of its divisions, it should be able to easily push those margins back up. But that's a big if.
The big question will be its communications division. With the Food and Drug Administration delaying drugs left and right -- witness Eli Lilly's
inVentiv could make up the difference with its commercial division that provides sales representatives for drug companies. As companies like Glaxo, Merck
With adjusted earnings per share expected to come in at $1.56 to $1.61 this year, the Motley Fool Hidden Gems selection is looking pretty reasonably priced at 7.6 times 2008 adjusted earnings. Then again, so are a lot of other companies. And the drooling continues.