Neogen Reports 23 Percent Increase in Revenues

Lansing-based Neogen Corporation reported a 23 percent increase in revenues for the second quarter of 2008. The company also reported a 34 percent increase in net income, setting a quarterly record for the 25-year-old company.

According to excerpts from the article:

The second quarter was the 59th consecutive profitable quarter from operations for the company, and the 63rd quarter of the past 68 quarters to show increased revenues as compared with the previous year.

"Those who have followed Neogen closely know of our goal to achieve $100 million in annual sales this year, and I'm pleased to report that we are half way there after the first six months," said James Herbert, Neogen's chief executive officer and chairman. "The quarter's revenue contributes to our record of compound annual growth of 19% for the past 15 years."

Neogen's ongoing efforts to control costs, improve productivity, and the results of economies of scale were evident in the second quarter. Operating income as a percentage of sales increased to 17.6% in the current quarter from the previous year's comparable quarter of 16.7%. On a six-month basis, operating income is 18.6% of sales compared to 17.2% in the prior year.

"Looking ahead, the outlook for the rest of the fiscal year is encouraging," said Lon Bohannon, Neogen's president and chief operating officer. "Our Food Safety Division has strong momentum, and we have identified numerous domestic and international sales opportunities to grow future sales. New product introductions, and the successful integration of Kane Enterprise products, have helped our Animal Safety Division's sales performance, and led to the division posting significant sales increases over the prior year."

Neogen's Food Safety Division led the company's second quarter revenue increase, with sales up 24% from $11,691,000 in FY 2007 to $14,474,000 in FY 2008. Year-to-date, the Food Safety Division's revenues were up 22% to $28,232,000 for FY 2008. The division's growth was led by the third consecutive quarter of outstanding growth (over 40%) in sales of the Soleris(TM) general microbial detection system, a nearly 40% increase in sales of its Acumedia(R) dehydrated culture media, and an increase in sales of dairy antibiotic testing products.

Read the entire article here.