The Top 10 Hot Growth Companies
10
Laserscope
When Laserscope first appeared on BusinessWeek's Hot Growth list in 1991, the San Jose (Calif.) company seemed poised to dominate the growing market for medical lasers. But then the outfit lost its way, trying unsuccessfully to sell into dozens of markets. When CEO Eric Reuter took over in 1999, he quickly refocused the company on the aging baby boomer population, winnowing its product lines down to lasers for such markets as gynecology, orthopedics, and plastic surgery.
But where Laserscope has found its biggest fan base is in urology. Today Laserscope is back on top, thanks to a line of products called GreenLight, used to treat enlarged prostates -- a condition that affects 30% of men past the age of 50. The focus on urology has clearly paid off for Laserscope: In the last three years, sales have jumped an average 38% a year, and profits have rocketed 576% a year. In the last two years, the stock has quadrupled to $34 a share.
Company Info
| STOCK INFO | LSCP |
| Market Value* | $ 699.1 MILLION |
| Total Return* | (1-yr.) 6.2%
(3-yr.) 533.6% |
| 2004 sales | $ 93.8 MILLION |
| Sales Growth | (1-yr.) 63.3%
(3-yr.) 38.2% |
| Net income* | $ 14.7 MILLION |
| Net Income Growth | (1-yr.) 485.6%
(3-yr.) 575.5% |
| Net Margin* | 16.9% |
| Return on Equity* | 35.5% |
| Return on Invested Capital* | 35.5% |
| Industry | HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
*Trailing 12 months
Company data as of 4/29/05
provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat
Laserscope Names New Finance Chief (AP)
Laserscope Inc. 1Q Profit Rises (AP)
The 100 Best Small Companies
Company Snapshot
Laserscope engages in the design, manufacture, sale, and service of medical laser systems and related energy devices for the medical office, outpatient surgical center, and hospital markets worldwide. Its product portfolio consists of lasers and other light-based systems for applications in the urology, dermatology, and aesthetic surgery markets. It offers GreenLight laser system, a KTP single-wavelength laser used for photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), a procedure to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia; Lyra 'i' and Lyra XP laser systems, which are neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), single-wavelength lasers used primarily for aesthetic procedures, including hair removal, wrinkle treatments, and leg vein treatments in physician offices; and Aura 'i' and Aura XP laser systems, which are portable, KTP/532 single-wavelength lasers for office use.
The Aura series laser's integrated StarPulse feature is used for the treatment of benign vascular and pigmented lesions, including leg nd facial telangiectasia, and pigmented lesions, such as age spots or lentigos and acne. It's also used as a continuous-wave laser for surgical applications that include endoscopic blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facelifts, tonsillectomy, wart removal, and snoring cessation. Laserscope also offers Gemini laser system, which combines both the wavelengths and pulsing characteristics of Laserscope's two aesthetic products, the Aura and Lyra laser systems, for clinical aesthetic applications; Venus 'i' a erbium:YAG laser system for micro-laser peels, skin resurfacing, and acne scar resurfacing; and 800 Series KTP/ YAG Surgical Laser System, which is a dual-wavelength system with applications in urology, general surgery, and other surgical specialties.
In addition, Laserscope offers surgical instrumentation, disposables, kits, and other accessories for use with its surgical laser systems. Its products include disposable optical fibers, side-firing devices, individual custom hand pieces for specific surgical applications, scanning devices, micromanipulators for microscopic surgery, procedure-specific kits and accessories, and various other devices. The company's ADDStat disposable fiber-optic delivery device is used primarily in the PVP procedure. Laserscope distributes its products through own direct sales force and regional distributor networks. It was founded in 1982 and is based in San Jose, Calif.
No. of Employees
229
Data provided by 
