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"Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), one of the nation’s leading home health care companies, is a bear-proof stock," says David Fessler, a leading stock advisor and Oxford Club Advisory Panelist. 

He explains, "The stock is defying the market. It’s one of the best non-cyclical companies on the planet, which means it’s recession proof." here's his review.

" Amedisys has more than 8,000 caregivers, working from more than 350 home health centers and hospice agencies, across more than 30 states. These centers typically serve residents within a 50-mile radius.

"And it sure helps to operate within a lucrative $62.8 billion market space that’s getting bigger by the day. Even better, management has just unleashed its secret weapon again: acquisitions.

"Just last month, Amedisys announced it had acquired five additional home health facilities located in Mississippi, Missouri and South Carolina.

"The prior month saw a $395 million acquisition of TLC Health Care Services, Inc. – one of the largest providers of hospice and home nursing agencies in the country. It added 92 home health and 11 hospice facilities, situated in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

"In the last 12 months, the company has opened or bought more than 80 other home health and hospice centers. And according to CEO William F. Borne, you can expect more of the same for the rest of 2008.

"But this company has more than just one card up its sleeve. It’s growing organically, too. Management ambitiously plans to open more than 40 new home health centers and five new hospice centers in the year ahead.

"Why home health care? From a care standpoint, it’s much better than the alternatives (nursing homes, hospital visits, etc.), since it keeps patients in familiar surroundings.

"Risk of infections also drops dramatically outside of a nursing home or hospital setting. The primary benefit, however, is that it’s considerably cheaper.

"A visiting nurse or physical therapist generally costs less than $80 per day. Compare that to the hundreds per day for nursing home care. And forget about hospital in-patient rehab clinics, where the cost can run more than $1,000 per day.

"Medicare knows a good thing when it sees it. It’s responsible for 89% of the company's revenues. That’s money in the bank for Amedisys.

"To be fair, there are analysts who warn that as Medicaid tries to rein in costs, companies in the home health care business could suffer a hit to their respective bottom lines. But we’re not buying it.

"Health care costs will continue to receive top priority, particularly as the aging (but still voting) baby-boomers increasingly require care. And it will be the lowest cost providers, like Amedisys, that will ultimately benefit.

"To help keep costs down, Amedisys has equipped nurses and therapists with laptops so they can transmit patient information back to a central data bank, for easy access by doctors. This bedside technology improves response time, and at the same time, cuts out a lot of administrative paperwork.

"These low-cost initiatives, combined with the aforementioned acquisitions, are having a nice impact on the bottom line. Amedisys’ recent first-quarter financial results have been superb: Profit rose 24% on a 38% increase in revenue.

"Bottom line, this company is a great play if you're looking for a fast-growing stock in a decidedly bearish market. And just like last quarter, the share price could get a nice pop when second-quarter earnings are released on July 29. So now might be a great time to add Amedisys to your portfolio."