Optos

Medical retinal screening specialist Optos (OPTS) says overall revenues rose 63% to $41.9m (£26.2m) in the three months to December.

Tthe fully listed company lifted pre-tax annual profits 43% to $25.1m in its last financial year to September. In an interim management statement, Optos indicated that like-for-like revenues, excluding newly acquired products, increased a more modest 11% in the first quarter of 2011-12, while device sales under finance leases surged more than 16-fold to $13.2m, offsetting an expected fall in operating lease revenues friom $20.7m to $16.6m.

Optos, which has been driving into ophthalmology in the USA and elsewhere and funded its $17.5m initial purchase price for Opko Instrumentation out of a $30m revolving credit facility, reported that its Opto Global business increased first-quarter sales to $1.5m. Chief executive officer Roy Davis says the company is receiving 'good levels of interest' in Daytona, its 'next-generation' desktop retinal device, which is 'on track' for launch in the current quarter.

Recommended by Growth Company Investor in June at 171p and again as a 'tip of the year for 2012' at 194p, Optos shares now change hands at 215p. Hold on.