May 21, 2013
Q4 Revenue at Medtronic Up 5 Percent, Outlook In Line with Analysts
 Medical technology company Medtronic, Inc. (MDT) reported its fourth-quarter and full fiscal year 2013 results Tuesday morning showing improvement in international sales that helped boost sales and profits, when not counted special items. With the news, shares have topped record highs for the price of a share set in January 2001. For the last quarter of fiscal 2013, ended April 26, Minneapolis-based Medtronic recorded revenue of $4.46 billion, compared to $4.3 billion in the year prior quarter. As reported, the increase was 4 percent, but excluding a $48 million negative impact for currency exchange, sales increased 5 percent. Net earnings for the quarter were $969 million, or 95 cents per share, compared to $991 million, or 94 cents per share, in last year’s quarter. The higher per share amount was because of fewer shares outstanding in the recent quarter. On (more)…
May 16, 2013
Myriad Genetics Gets a Lift from Angelina Jolie Going Public with Double Mastectomy
 Scrolling through news this week uncovered countless stories on financial portals covering actress and director Angelina Jolie publicly disclosing that she has undergone a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery to greatly minimize her risk of developing breast cancer due to a genetic trait. Jolie, who lost her mother to the dreaded disease at the young age of 56, released her story via a New York Times article titled, “My Medial Choice” on Tuesday, recanting her thought process in making the decision. The decision for surgery was, of course, primarily focused around her children, but the public offering of the information was about creating awareness of the choice that women have to avert a disease that claims nearly half a million people each year. From a public company perspective, Brad Pitt’s partner has created a great deal of awareness for Salt (more)…
May 15, 2013
Agilent Tops Wall Street in Q2, Comes Up Shy on 2013 Guidance
 Scientific measuring equipment maker Agilent Technologies Inc. (A) reported results from its fiscal second quarter showing an expected decline in net income that beat analysts. The Santa Clara, California-based company also said that it is planning to streamline its staff and boost it stock repurchasing program. For the quarter ended April 30, Agilent recorded revenue of $1.732 billion, essentially flat with $1.733 billion in the year prior quarter. Net income decreased to $166 million, or 48 cents per share, compared to $255 million, or 72 cents per share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Excluding charges related to restructuring, intangible amortization and other costs that were partially offset by a one-time tax benefit, the company reported adjusted net income of $269 million, or 77 cents per share, versus $275 million, or 78 cents per share, in last year’s quarter. (more)…
May 13, 2013
Theravance Spikes on $1 Billion Deal for COPD Treatment
 Shares for biopharmaceutical developer and marketer Theravance (THRX) are on a tear to start off the week, after the company announced a last-minute $1 billion royalties deal with Irish drug maker Elan Corporation (ELN). Elan has recently been fending off take-over efforts by Royalty Pharma, who last month bid $5.7 billion for the company. For $1 billion, Elan will acquire 21 percent of the royalties that Theravance receives from its partnership with Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) from a series of four respiratory drugs currently under development by the two U.S. companies. The deal includes, Breo Ellipta, a new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which was just approved by the FDA last Friday, along with another COPD treatment called Anoro Ellipta, as well as two others that are in earlier stages of development. The move comes as Elan attempts to (more)…
May 10, 2013
Tauriga Sciences: Investing in the Breakthroughs of Tomorrow
 The biotechnology sector presents a host of opportunities and risks for investors. Biotech firms ostensibly develop technologies and treatments that can save lives by making serious diseases, injuries, and other disorders livable, if not preventable. Relatively new processes such as bio imaging are allowing doctors and scientists to peer into the details of the human body in ways that were unthinkable until recently. Given the experimental nature of much of what goes on in biotech and the inevitable costs associated with research and development, however, getting a project off the ground can present significant challenges. Enter Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG). Through a number of means, Tauriga helps to secure capital for small and micro-cap biotech and life sciences companies that it believes are working on the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Under the leadership of Seth Shaw, who took the helm as (more)…
May 7, 2013
Henry Schein Reports Revenue Up 9 Percent and Profits Up 8 Percent in Q1
 Health care product and service provider Henry Schein Inc. (HSIC) said Tuesday that first-quarter earnings and revenue improved on the back of increased sales both in North America and internationally. The Melville, New York-based company also affirmed its outlook for the full year. Revenue in the first quarter for Henry Schein totaled $2.3 billion, a 9.3 percent increase from $2.1 billion in the year prior quarter. Net income in the latest quarter was $91.5 million, or $1.03 per share, up from $80.8 million, or 89 cents per share, last year. Excluding special items related a refinancing of debt at Butler Schein Animal Health, adjusted profits were $94.2 million, or $1.06 per share, an 8.2 percent increase compared to adjusted earnings in the first quarter of 2012. Wall Street was expecting profits of $1.07 per share on revenue of $2.25 billion. (more)…
5 Small-Cap Medical Equipment Stocks That Pay Dividends
 Demand for medical equipment, supplies, and appliances is timeless. Yet, out of all publicly traded medical equipment companies, only a small handful pay dividends. The following companies develop medical equipment, possess market caps of less than $2 billion, and pay regular cash dividends to shareholders. 1. Conmed (CNMD) develops equipment and devices for minimally invasive procedures and monitoring. Its products range from defibrillators to vital sign monitors, and its devices are used in a wide range of operations. Share Price: $31.21 Market Cap: $885.53M Dividend: $0.15/quarter (1.92% annually) Conmed’s business is currently stronger than ever. Its stock reached an all-time high this March at $34.48. It also began paying a quarterly dividend at the beginning of 2012, which indicates Conmed expects free cash flow to continue to grow. After pulling back around 10% since its high, Conmed now trades at (more)…
S&P Capital IQ Focus Stock of the Week: AmerisourceBergen Corp.
 S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst Herman Saftlas has a 5-STARS “Strong Buy” recommendation for AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC). For more information, please visit: www.marketscope.com.
April 30, 2013
Pfizer’s Sales Hurt by Generic Competition
 Shares for drug manufacturer Pfizer (PFE) were down 3.32 percent on Monday to $29.42 as its earnings report indicated that while net income for the first quarter of 2013 was up over 50 percent, figures were still short of expectations and the company cut its forecast for the rest of the year. During the first quarter, Pfizer’s net income was $2.75 billion, or $0.38 per share, on revenue of $13.5 billion, versus the prior year period during which net income was $1.79 billion, or $0.28 per share on revenue of $14.89 billion. Without one-time items, net income came in at $0.54 per share, a cent less than the average analyst forecast. Despite a $490 million gain from a joint venture in China, the company said profits were hampered by unfavorable exchange rates, as well as increased competition from the loss (more)…
Rising Cases of New Bird Flu Highlight Vaccination Debate and Need for New Vaccines
 Each year, plenty of people ask the question, “Should I get a influenza vaccination?” For many of those people, the answer is already defined and it is “Too bad, you’re getting one.” Some states, such as New Jersey, have made flu shots mandatory. In Jersey, children 6 months to 5 years old must be vaccinated in order to attend a licensed daycare, preschool or pre-kindergarten, in spite of protest when the law was enacted in 2008. On a different front, hundreds of hospitals across the U.S. have mandated flu shots for employees, under the contention that it improves patient safety. Again, there was turmoil created, including seven workers at Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital being relieved of their jobs for refusing to roll up their sleeves. The reasons against the shot are widespread, including religious beliefs, allergies, vegan lifestyle, uncertainty (more)…
Older Posts »
|
|
