PPD to become part of NASDAQ 100

Wilmington-based PPD will soon be part of the NASDAQ 100 index, effective next Monday.

The NASDAQ 100 represents the largest, non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ stock market. CEO Fred Eshelman called it a "defining moment" in PPD's growth.

PPD is a global research organization with offices in 33 countries. UNCW senior economist, Woody Hall, said this shows PPD is an up-and-coming company. "It gives some publicity to a company that has not had that much publicity in the past, at least internationally. Locally, we've had a lot of publicity about PPD, particularly in light of the fact that they've consolidated their offices in downtown Wilmington,” he said.

Hall said this also bodes well for PPD's stock value.