2 Stocks Hitting 52-Week Highs: The Medicines Cos., Herbalife

NEW YORK (TheStreet) - Shares of The Medicines Co.(MDCO) and Herbalife(HLF) reached 52-week highs on Wednesday.

Both stocks are rated as buys by TheStreet Ratings.

The Medicines Cos.

The pharmaceutical company reported Wednesday fourth-quarter earnings of $19.6 million, or 36 cents a share, down from year-ago earnings of $58.6 million, or $1.09 a share.

Shares of Medicines hit a 52-week high Wednesday of $22.82. The stock's 52-week low of $12.33 was set on Aug. 9.

Medicines has a forward P/E of 18.98; the average for pharmaceutical companies is 21.93. For comparison, Medicis Pharmaceutical(MRX) and Par Phamaceutical(PRX) both have lower forward P/Es of 12.71 and 10.46.

Five of the seven analysts who cover Medicines rate it at buy. Two analysts have hold ratings.

TheStreet Ratings gives Medicines a B grade and $27.83 price target. The stock has risen 19.05% year to date.

Herbalife

The nutritional supplement marketing company Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $105.4 million, or 86 cents a share, up from year-ago earnings of $86.3 million, or 69 cents a share.

"We reiterate our BUY rating and believe Herbalife's efficient business model along with deployment of its daily consumption models across its major markets will continue to drive double-digit revenue and earnings growth," Canaccord analysts wrote in a report Wednesday.

Share of Herbalife hit a 52-week high Wednesday of $67.40. The stock's 52-week low of $34.23 was set a year ago.

Ten of the 11 analysts who cover the stock rate it at buy; one analyst is at sell.

Herbalife gets an A+ grade from TheStreet Ratings and $78.91 price target. The stock has increased 28.59% year to date.

--Written by Alexandra Zendrian in New York.

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