Fisher Scientific

General Company Info

Fisher Scientific International Inc. (NYSE: FSH) is a leading provider of products and services to the scientific-research community and clinical laboratories. They provide more than 600,000 products and services to its 350,000 customers worldwide in 150 countries. Fisher's three operating segments are scientific products and services, which sells lab consumables such as pipettes, vials, and chemical reagents; health-care products and services, which includes diagnostic kits and antibodies; and lab workstations, which provides lab furniture, such as hoods. Founded more than a hundred years ago, Fisher Scientific is a FORTUNE 500 company and is a component of the S&P 500.

Headquarters: Hampton, New Hampshire Employment: Approximately 18,500 people Sales: $5.5 Billion

Main Businesses

Scientific Products & Services (74% of sales) – provides products and services primarily to entities conducting scientific research, including drug discovery and drug development, quality and process control and basic research and development. Additionally, this segment provides services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in clinical trials, including specialized packaging, over-encapsulation, labeling and distribution for phase III and phase IV clinical trials, as well as combinatorial chemistry, custom-chemical synthesis, supply-chain management and a number of other services. Healthcare Products & Services (23%) – manufactures and distributes a wide array of diagnostic kits and reagents, equipment, instruments, and other consumable products to hospitals and group-purchasing organizations, clinical laboratories, reference laboratories, physicians' offices and original equipment. This segment also provides outsourced manufacturing services for diagnostic reagents, calibrators and controls to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Lab Workstations (3%) – Fisher Hamilton has grown to become the world’s largest manufacturer of laboratory casework, airflow products, countertops and related accessories. Standard products include innovative, high-quality lab workstations and benches in a wide variety of materials and styles, and mobile and systems furniture that provide for easy configuration.

In the news

January 11, 2006 - Fisher Scientific International Inc. and Invitrogen, a leading life-sciences company, signed a European distribution agreement that became effective on Jan. 1, for specific customers within the research, life-science and academic market segments. The relationship combines Fisher's advanced distribution network and sales along with its customer-service expertise with a wide selection of Invitrogen's essential life-science products. "We're pleased that one of the world's preeminent life- science companies has added Fisher Scientific to its distribution network in Europe," said Bob Ahlgren, president of Global Distribution Services for Fisher Scientific International Inc. "We look forward to providing these targeted research customers with an expanded life-science offering that includes many Invitrogen-brand products."

January 11, 2006 - Fisher Scientific International Inc. announced today that David T. Della Penta will retire at the end of 2006 from his position as president and chief operating officer. Until that time, he will continue to be responsible for all of the company's operating activities. Della Penta joined Fisher in his current role in April 1998. The company will make any additional announcements concerning succession plans later this year.

December 27, 2005 - The current fiscal year consensus EPS estimate for this stock has changed from 3.56 to 3.55. Details at http://quicktake.morningstar.com/Stock/earningsestimates.asp?Symbol=FSH

Top Competitors

Beckton Dickson & Co. - makes labware, cellular analysis systems, and growth media. Corning - manufactures products made from specialty glass, ceramics, and related materials. VWR International - distributes products that range from chemicals to lab instruments to protective clothing made by other companies

Sources: Company website, Hoovers.com, and Morningstar.com .

Sources: Company website, Hoovers.com, and Morningstar.com