The markets ended the week closing lower two days in a row. Yet small cap biotech companies RTI Biologics (NASDAQ:
RTIX) and STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ:
STAA) rose to new 52-week highs of $3.75 and $7.08 per share, respectively, in Friday's trading session.
RTI Biologics has been in a very strong uptrend since February and has hit 52-week highs ten times in the past month. It recently posted strong second-quarter results and raised its outlook for the full year. The Florida-based company produces orthopedic and other surgical implants that repair and promote the natural healing of human bone and other human tissues. It has a market cap of $201.3 million.
The long-term earnings per share growth forecast is 26.9%. The forward P/E ratio forecast is in line with the industry average and the PEG ratio is 0.9. Cash on hand has increased in recent quarters while long-term debt has decreased. Shares are trading more than 37% higher than at the beginning of the year. The stock has outperformed competitors Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ:
IART) and Medtronic (NYSE:
MDT), as well as the broader markets, year to date.
STAAR Surgical recently reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and boosted its guidance. The share price has risen more than 35% since then. The first quarter was the first profitable one since 2000. The California-based company develops, manufactures and sells implantable lenses for the cataracts and refractive surgery, as well as sells related instruments, devices and equipment. Its market cap is $247.9 million.
Cash on hand has increased in the past few quarters while long-term debt has decreased. Cash flow from operations has increased in that time as well. Revenue is forecast to be up 15% this year and up 13% in the following year. Shares are trading almost 46% higher than a year ago. The stock has outperformed competitor Cooper Companies (NASDAQ:
COO), as well as the broader markets, over the past six months.
Action Items: Bullish: Traders interested in biotech exchange traded funds might want to consider the following trades:
- Biotech HOLDRs (NYSE: BBH): up almost 14% in the past year
- iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (NASDAQ: IBB): up more than 10% in the past year
- SPDR S&P Biotech (NYSE: XBI): up almost 8% in the past year
Or traders looking for a hedge might want to consider these alternative positions:
- ProShares UltraShort Health Care (NYSE: RXD): up more than 29% in the past month
- ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotech (NYSE: BIS): up more than 34% in the past month
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