Albany Molecular Research (NASDAQ: AMRI) provides contract services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The firm offers drug discovery, screening programs, libraries for screening and hit-to-lead programs, and analytical quantification of drugs and metabolites in biological samples. The company also conducts its own research, aiming to license its compounds to other firms for further development. Albany Molecular owns a patent for fexofenadine HCl, the key ingredient in Sanofi-Aventis' (NYSE: SNY) antihistamine Allegra.

The company pleased investors last week, when it reported Q2 EPS of 24 cents and revenues of $57.9 million. Analysts had been looking for ten cents and $51.8 million. The CEO noted that submission of a Canadian Clinical Trial Application by partner Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) triggered a milestone payment to Albany that reflected well on the value of the company's strategic technology platform. Management also guided Q3 EPS to 8-10 cents (seven cent consensus) and FY08 EPS to 48-52 cents (38 cent consensus).

Albany Molecular Research (NASDAQ: AMRI) provides contract services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The firm offers drug discovery, screening programs, libraries for screening and hit-to-lead programs, and analytical quantification of drugs and metabolites in biological samples. The company also conducts its own research, aiming to license its compounds to other firms for further development. Albany Molecular owns a patent for fexofenadine HCl, the key ingredient in Sanofi-Aventis' (NYSE: SNY) antihistamine Allegra.

The company pleased investors last month, when it reported Q1 EPS of ten cents and revenues of $53.6 million. Analysts had been looking for three cents and $47.7 million. The CEO noted a 15% increase in Allegra-derived royalities. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 8-11 cents (ten cent consensus) and FY08 EPS to 38-42 cents (33 cent consensus). The AMRI price popped on the news and then moved into a bullish "flag" pattern.