Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of Computer Programs & Systems (Nasdaq: CPSI), which makes software and systems to help small and midsize hospitals manage their affairs, fell off a cliff today. Share prices dropped as much as 29% on (are you sitting down?) about 20 times average trading volumes.
So what: Last night's third-quarter report fell far short of analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Fourth quarter guidance wasn't any better.
Now what: It ain't easy for a small-cap health specialist competing with global giants McKesson (NYSE: MCK), IBM (NYSE: IBM) (via privately held Healthcare Management Systems), and Siemens (NYSE: SI). This drop erased about nine months of jumpy gains but also boosted the dividend payout from 2% to 2.8% overnight. I don't see any structural problems in this debt-free systems specialist with achievable growth goals. If you agree, this could be the perfect time to start a very safe dividend-milking position.
Interested in more info about Computer Programs & Systems? Click here to add it to My Watchlist.
