Today's Health Winners and Losers

Updated from 2:27 p.m. EDT

Shares of Pharmaceutical Product Development(PPDI Quote) were among the best-performing health-related stocks Tuesday, soaring 21% after the drug company posted in-line first-quarter earnings on better-than-expected revenue.

The company earned $41.8 million, or 35 cents a share, on revenue of $299.4 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected earnings of 35 cents a share and revenue of $274.8 million. In last year's first quarter, the company earned $32.9 million, or 29 cents a share, on revenue of $244.1 million.

"In a quarter that has been historically light, PPD delivered its second-largest quarter of gross and net new business on record, as well as year-over-year margin expansion in the development segment," the company said. Shares were trading up $7.02 to $40.63.

Shares of Emdeon(HLTH Quote) rose 8% after the health-information company previewed better-than-expected first-quarter results. The company sees earnings before interest, taxes, non-cash and other items of 18 cents a share, up from an earlier view of 14 cents to 15 cents a share. The company now predicts revenue of $338 million to $339 million, up from its earlier forecast of $328 million to $338 million. Analysts project earnings of 15 cents a share on revenue of $329.6 million. The company attributed the better-than-expected outlook to a host of items, including stronger medical claims volume at its Emdeon business services unit.

For all of 2006, Emdeon raised its adjusted EBITDA forecast to $225 million to $255 million from an earlier view of $200 million to $230 million. The company now sees revenue of $1.38 billion to $1.43 billion, up from an earlier prediction of $1.37 billion to $1.42 billion. The company plans to issue its financial results on May 4. Shares were trading up 87 cents to $11.43.

Vascular Solutions(VASC Quote) posted first-quarter results that beat expectations and issued a second-quarter sales guidance that topped forecasts, sending shares up 10%. The medical-device company reported a first-quarter loss of $855,000, or 6 cents a share, on revenue of $10 million. Analysts expected a bigger loss of 10 cents a share and revenue of $9.3 million. During the year-ago period, the company recorded a loss of $289,000, or 2 cents a share, on revenue of $7.3 million.

Looking ahead, Vascular Solutions projects second-quarter revenue of $10.4 million to $10.7 million. Analysts project revenue of $10.1 million. Shares were trading up 79 cents to $8.67.