Stocks to Die For! (Part 2)

Stocks to die for! (Part 1)
New Vistas for Celera Stocks
Investors with appreciation for cutting-edge biotechnology will realize that the best years for companies such as Celera lie ahead. The major business lines of the company (About Us, 2007) are irreplaceable cogs of the unfolding health care scenario. Drugs based on standard molecular configurations will become obsolete, and improved prognoses will benchmark medical practice of the future.

Most of the knowledge in this vital area resides with academic bodies spread over diverse sites, so a corporate entity such as Celera has a distinct advantage in business terms. Moreover, its strategic alliance with a major pharmaceutical corporation (About Us, 2007) means that it can realize revenues from its discoveries quickly, and without having to replicate all functions related to manufacture and marketing of new drugs. This applies to both its business lines in terms of diagnostic platforms and diagnostic products.

Celera has also acquired a health care company with annual revenues of over $80 million, and with exciting growth prospects (Celera to acquire Berkeley HeartLab in 195 mln usd deal, 2007). This acquisition will give Celera accelerated entry in to a profitable and rapidly growing section of the global health care industry. Celera also has plans to develop analyte specific reagents (“ASRs”), which it can sell to certified clinical research laboratories without regulatory clearances (Form 10-K, 2007). This will give investors degrees of returns which are not dependant on clearances from bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Management Resources Add Strengths to Celera Stocks

Celera is expected to top revenues of $40 million in 2007 with just 300 employees (About Us, 2007). Analysts anticipate the company to emerge in to the realm of profitability in the near future with flying colors. Celera has its own tracking stock, which gives its executive’s independence as well as clear accountability. Applera has been careful to structure its controls over its operating companies in a manner, which does not stifle innovation, and improves strategic discipline at the same time.

The biotechnology sector has proved to be a bit of a minefield until now, with more failures than enduring successes. People with brilliant ideas have often found to be wanting in management terms, and indeed this could be said of Celera’s founder as well. Venture capitalists, fund providers, and other owners of stocks have also been guilty of running short of patience with evolving market and technological trends. Celera and Applera seem to have learnt sound lessons from such earlier experiences, and seem to have now hit upon a new business model, which has good chances of achieving sustainable profits and steady appreciation of stocks.