5-Star Stocks Poised to Pop: LabCorp

Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, medical lab operator Laboratory Corp. of America (NYSE: LH) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at LabCorp's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

LabCorp facts

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 97% of the 640 members who have rated LabCorp believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include DanielSparks and Hornblower1810.

Late last year, DanielSparks tapped LabCorp as a solid selection:

Its business is easy to understand and extremely predictable -- just like its free cash flow. This is an undervalued business with low downside risk and great potential. You can't go wrong buying this business at this price.

In fact, LabCorp's three-year average return on equity of 26.5% easily tops that of its closest competitors Bio-Reference Labs (18.4%) and Quest Diagnostics (19.3%).

CAPS member Hornblower1810 elaborates on the bull case:

As hospitals consolidate they are acquiring primary care practices in their communities. These practices are now directing much of their lab tests to Lab Corp. True, the office & waiting rooms of Lab Corp are far from glamorous but they are highly efficient, fast, reliable and low cost. Plus you can order your own lab testing online with no need for a physician referral if you like.

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