Ebix Delivers on Its Promise: Under the Radar

ATLANTA (TheStreet) -- Software-company investments can be sketchy.

Many companies look promising based on cutting-edge software that make claims to revolutionize some industry or another. More often than not, the realization doesn't match expectations. Atlanta-based Ebix(EBIX Quote) is the other sort of software company, the kind that actually follows through on the promise.

Over the past year, Ebix's stock has risen 165%, with a return on equity of 39% and net income that has increased with every accounting period. Ebix has found a profitable niche and is exploiting it.

With a range of software offerings, support and consultancy that benefit the insurance industry, Ebix isn't the first company to come to mind when considering business software or determining which companies may thrive during a recession. Ebix has managed to sell the cost-saving advantages of its software well enough to thrive despite the slump in business spending.

Ebix may not appear cheap after its impressive run. Its price-to-earnings ratio has crept up to just over 22, but when compared with other business-software companies, such as Wipro(WIT Quote) and Citrix(CTXS Quote), it indeed looks inexpensive. Wipro has a P/E ratio of 35 and Citrix's is 48. The average for business IT companies is 38.

Analysts project 2010 earnings will hit $3.63 a share, an increase of $1.70 over this year's expectations. At that level, Ebix's valuation would support a future share price of about $80, an increase of 23%.