The Chatter: Under Cloues, K-Tron has acquired one company a year, on average, since he became CEO a decade ago. Its steady expansion is mirrored in its stock price in recent years - relentlessly up.
Route 141 & Henry Clay Road, Building E336, Wilmington
302-498-6700
Founded 1991
President/CEO: Paul A. Friedman
NASDAQ: INCY
Market cap: $764 million *
Stock-div return one year: 59.5 percent **
Incyte is developing biotech drugs hoping to treat conditions like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), diabetes, oncology, and inflammation diseases. Among its experimental compounds are potential treatments for myelofibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.
The Chatter: Launched in 1991 to develop gene-mapping technology, and once commanding $140 a share, Incyte now pursues small-molecule drugs itself, but hasn't topped $20 in years. Its yearlong stock rise got close, but then turned south recently after an experimental product got a negative review.
30 S. 17th St., Philadelphia
215-972-0420
Founded 1977
President/CEO: Michael J. McKelvey
NASDAQ: ERES
Market cap: $810 million *
Stock-div return one year: 58 percent **
Working on the back end of drug development, eResearch helps pharmaceutical, biotech and medical-device companies collect and interpret cardiac safety and clinical data. Its products include the EXPeRT Cardiac Safety data-management system and EXPeRT Portal that gives clinical trial researchers and staff real-time access to progress reports. It also provides study initiation, project management, technology- and regulatory-review services.
The Chatter: The worse things got on drug safety in recent years, the better it got for companies like eResearch, which does the testing. Wall Street cheered McKelvey's appointment a year ago and kept buying.
1735 Market St., Philadelphia
215-299-6000
Founded 1884
NYSE: FMC
Chairman/President/CEO: William G. Walter
Market cap: $5.49 billion *
Stock-div return one year: 48.3 percent **
A chemical-maker, FMC's crop protection, pest control, and lawn and garden products are sold worldwide. It makes herbicides to protect various crops, turf, and roadsides from weed growth. Its microcrystalline cellulose is used as a drug dry-tablet binder, its carrageenan for thickening and stabilizing food products, and its lithium for batteries, greases and lubricants.
The Chatter: Soda ash, a key ingredient in everything from glass to detergent to agriculture, has gotten pricier as demand soars around the world. And FMC, a big supplier, has thrived.
