Is Edwards Lifesciences Corp (EW) One of the Best Companies in America?

Perhaps it’s a little bit of growing pains, but a cranky workforce is something that management needs to get under control quickly, especially in the medical device field where the only way to survive is to innovate. Every company is trying to one-up its competitors with new features. Edwards Lifesciences currently competes with Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) for heart valve patients, and St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) and Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) BSX) are also developing heart valve products as well. If Edwards Lifesciences can’t keep its employees happy, they’re going to jump ship for competitors.

One other minor complaint: When Edwards Lifesciences Corp (NYSE:EW) missed third-quarter earnings guidance, one the excuses cited by Chairman and CEO Michael Mussallem was that doctors were on vacation over the summer. While that seems like a reasonable reason for lower sales — doing surgical procedures on the beach is frowned upon — it doesn’t seem like a reason to miss guidance. The vacations should have been factored into the guidance. Where there really that many more doctors taking vacations than in previous years that it was an excuse worth mentioning?

Best of the Best?
The run that Edwards Lifesciences has gone on makes it worthy of our initial cut from 1,700 public companies down to around 40 companies — a great feat for sure. But I think I’d like to see how it grows into its britches before we slap a ringing endorsement of being in the top 25.

The article Is Edwards Lifesciences One of the Best Companies in America? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Brian Orelli has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Medtronic.

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