Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings (LH): Today's Featured Health Services Winner

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH) pushed the Health Services industry higher today making it today's featured health services winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.8%. By the end of trading, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings rose 73 cents (0.8%) to $92.92 on average volume. Throughout the day, 832,010 shares of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 800,400 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $92.44-$93.39 after having opened the day at $92.44 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $92.19. Other companies within the Health Services industry that increased today were: Sunshine Heart (SSH), up 37.8%, BioMimetic Therapeutics (BMTI), up 23.6%, Hooper Holmes (HH), up 12.1%, and Neostem (NBS), up 7.1%.

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Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as an independent clinical laboratory company in the United States. The company offers a range of testing services used by the medical profession in routine testing, patient diagnosis, and in the monitoring and treatment of diseases. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings has a market cap of $8.9 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.7, below the average health services industry P/E ratio of 16.8 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 7% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and eight rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in net income, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, growth in earnings per share and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Laboratory Corporation of America Ratings Report.

On the negative front, MAKO Surgical Corporation (MAKO), down 43.1%, Stereotaxis (STXS), down 15.3%, BSD Medical Corporation (BSDM), down 14.3%, and Retractable Technologies (RVP), down 10.7%, were all losers within the health services industry with UnitedHealth Group (UNH) being today's health services industry loser.

• Use our health services section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health services industry could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health services industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings click any of the following:

• Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Stock Price

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• Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Balance Sheet

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• Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Income Statement