Posts for Ticker ‘ABT’

Stocks That Missed the Rally (ABT, MO, AWK, BKC, ENER, GENZ, KR, ORB, WMT, LEAP, PCS)

Here we are going into yet another earnings season.  We saw Monday how the market has rallied significantly from the March lows and the major indexes are even up in positive territory for the 2009 calendar.  The DJIA is up 51% from its absolute lows of March, and the S&P 500 has rallied more than 61% from its absolute lows in March.  If you look at the December 31, 2008 closing bell levels, the DJIA is now up about 12.75% and the S&P 500 is now up more than 19% year-to-date.

But almost as always, there are still some key very large and/or very active stocks which have not recovered anywhere close to the same amounts with the overall stock markets.  Some of these lagging stocks are Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC), Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER), Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Orbital Sciences Corp. (NYSE: ORB) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT).  Two similar situation stocks that are Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) and MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS).  We wanted to explore the forward values and relative performance, and the consensus estimates based upon Thomson Reuters data.  Only two of these stocks have market capitalization rates under $1 billion, and almost all are very actively traded and well known in their sectors.
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Posted on: October 12, 2009 – 5:03 pm in Biotech, Charts, Consumer Goods, Defensive Stocks, Dividend, Editor's Picks, Retail, Utilities, Value Investing, Water, , , , , , , , , , ,

Next Week’s Top 11 Earnings (INTC, JNJ, ABT, JPM, C, GS, GOOG, IBM, BAC, GE, HAL)

Bull and Bear ImageWe may have had earnings season officially start with Alcoa this week, but next week will be the real week for the launch of earnings season.  We now have an index to track the top 500 companies by market cap on a real-time basis via the 24/7 Wall St. Real-Time 500, and these top 10 earnings next week are generally among the top market caps and/or trading volumes.  In technology we have to look forward to Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC), Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), and IBM (NYSE: IBM).  General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is the conglomerate and Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) is the oil entrant.  Financial leaders JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS), and Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) are all due.  Tied to BioHealth are Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) on deck.

We have detailed the estimates on an earnings basis as far as estimates from Thomson Reuters, and we have also included how much these stocks have rallied since the start of the July quarter and how much these are up from the March 9 closing date that has been widely recognized as the last day of the mayhem before the rapid snap-back rally came into play.
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Posted on: October 9, 2009 – 12:33 pm in Banking, Calendar, Conglomerates, Drug companies, Earnings, Financial Stocks, Internet, Technology Companies, , , , , , , , , , ,

News Digest 9/28/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   Solvay sold its drug unit to Abbott (ABT) foe $6.6 billion.

Reuters:   Kraft (KFT) will launch a hostile bid for Cadbury.

Reuters:   The World Bank said not to take the dollar’s role in the global economy for granted.

Reuters:   Crucell got a $302 million investment from J&J (JNJ) Read More »

Posted on: September 28, 2009 – 4:04 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , ,

The Next Blockbuster Drugs: A $170 Billion Opportunity

biotech

Safety and efficacy data are critical to drug candidates. But what really makes a potential drug attractive is strong top-line data, a new biotech-based treatment, and a massive potential market.

With help from Thomson Pharma and our own backlog of coverage, BioHealthInvestor.com, a 247wallst.com website, sought to find the most promising biopharmaceutical candidate from both biotech and pharmaceutical companies in each of the top 10 most prevalent medical conditions in the U.S. Read More »

Posted on: July 22, 2009 – 4:01 am in Biotech, Drug companies, Editor's Picks, Pharmaceuticals, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 8/30/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   Cybercrime is spreading fast on Facebook.

Reuters:   GM will seek to sell most of its assets to a new company.

Reuters:    Madoff got 150 years in prison.

Reuters:   AIG (AIG) shareholders will elect new directors.

Reuters:   GM is close to a deal to sell Opel.

Reuters:   A jury returned a $1.7 billion drug verdict against Abbot (ABT). Read More »

Posted on: June 30, 2009 – 3:03 am in Drug companies, Hardware, Healthcare, Medical, Mergers and Buy Outs, Oil & Gas, Press Digest, Wireless, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Imminent Change to DJIA 30 (GM, F, CSCO, ORCL, AAPL, GOOG, CL, HON, PEP, TGT, AMZN, MDT, ABT, GS, BRK-A)

Word is out that the Dow Jones Indexes team is set to release the name of the replacement for General Motors (NYSE: GM) in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  We have heard that the new candidate will be announced today and also heard that the change may be announced early Monday. We have a list of stocks we believe are the most likely candidates, and a list of exclusions for several reasons.  Again, this pertains to replacing GM, so if there are a series of index changes then some of the others could make it in that we feel are not as likely.  Because the index is price-weighted rather than market capitalization-weighted, some of the would-be hopeful stocks are probably not really under consideration as members of the DJIA.
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Posted on: May 29, 2009 – 2:15 pm in Buffett, Index, Rumors, Trading Alert, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DJIA Component Replacement Candidates for GM (GM, F, CSCO, ORCL, GOOG, AAPL, CL, HON, PEP, TGT, MDT, ABT, GS, BRK-A)

The bets are on that General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) is done as far as the current stock is concerned.  While it seems that the equity holders of today will keep 1% of the “New Co.,” this is far from fitting into parameters of being one of the thirty components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  We have speculated on this with other companies moving in and out, but we have compiled a list of companies which we think could be replacements.  We have also listed some of the companies we think will not be included that many traders and investors might be hoping could be up for inclusion.
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Posted on: May 27, 2009 – 11:05 am in Autos, Buffett, Conglomerates, Index, Infrastructure, Large Cap Stocks, Trading Alert, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 3/30/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaper26According to Reuters, the Administration has forced GM (GM) CEO Rick Wagoner out of his job.

Reuters reports that in an FT interview Obama said the G-20 nations should send a strong message of unity.

Reuters reports that the WSJ writes that regulators are looking for ways that Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) might help small mortgage banks.

Reuters reports that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said G8 countries could have double-digit unemployment in about a year.

Reuters reports that Geithner would not say if there will be a need for more bank bailout money.

Reuters reports that AIG (AIG) is delaying funds to some of the real estate ventures with which it has contracts. Read More »

Posted on: March 30, 2009 – 3:00 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (LDK)(ABT)(EXC)(FMCN)

bear5LDK Solar (LDK) Write-down and poor forecast. Drops to $4.01 from 52-week high of $52.40.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) No special news. Just drifting down. Falls to $44.51 from 52-week high of $59.95.

Exelon Corp (EXC) Analyst downgrade. Sells off to $38.41 from 52-week high of $92.13.

Focus Media  (FMCN) China-based advertising firm being hit like US counterparts. Drops to $4.84 from 52-week high of $46.92.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: March 11, 2009 – 2:56 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

Bill Gates Top Holdings (ABT, AN, BRK-A, BP, CNI, CAT, KO, COST, CCI, EK, XOM, FMX, JNJ, MCD, OTTR, RSG, SGP, WMT, WMI)

bill-gates-imageWe compiled a list of the equity holdings of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and for Bill Gates’ personal investment vehicle Cascade Investment.  These are as of December 31, 2008 and we have taken out the positions listed as under $50 million to make this list easier to read.  This list also excludes the massive holdings in Microsoft (MSFT).
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Posted on: February 17, 2009 – 8:48 am in Activist Investor, Insider Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

100% Buyout Premiums Still Exist (ABT, EYE)

Money_stack_pic_2If we told you on Friday that a decent-sized medical merger was coming with a 100% premium, you probably wouldn’t have believed it.  We are having a hard time believing it even after the fact.  Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is buying Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (NYSE: EYE). 

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Posted on: January 12, 2009 – 10:43 am in Medical, Mergers and Buy Outs, ,

Media Digest 12/16/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

NewspaperAccording to Reuters, retail sales will probably drop further after the holidays.

Reuters reports that the shock waves of the Madoff scandal are spreading around the financial world.

Reuters writes that the auto bailout will be announced by Wednesday.

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Posted on: December 16, 2008 – 3:54 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , ,

Drug-Eluting Stent Data Shows More Promise (BSX, ANPI, JNJ, SRDX, MDT, ABT)

Stent_imageThe Massachusetts Department of Public Health funded a study which is showing further evidence to support the use of drug eluting stents over bare metal stents in heart attack patients.  This study measured stent use in diabetic patients. 

While the study did not show which exact stents were under comparison, it does at least give some timeframes.  The larger historic drug-eluting stents and their makers are Taxus by Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) with Angiotech (NASDAQ: ANPI) as the molecule maker for Taxus, and  Cypher by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) with SurModics (SRDX) as the molecule maker for Cypher.

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Posted on: November 11, 2008 – 12:01 pm in Medical, , , , , ,

Abbott (ABT): A Resurrection Of The Stent Business

Sad_clownThe stent business in the US has been dying and it is in trouble overseas. Stents are small mesh tubs which keep clogged arteries open.

Last year, several studies showed that stents could cause clotting which in turn could trigger heart attacks. More recently scientists have pointed out that open heart surgery can be more effective than stents for managing cardiac disease.

The bad medicine almost scuttled Boston Scientific (BSX). It had taken on huge debt to buy rival Guidant. Stents are one of the company’s largest product lines. The sharp drop in sales after the challenging research was issued took BSX shares to a series of 52-week lows.

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Posted on: September 17, 2008 – 5:47 am in Medical, , ,

INDEX ALERT: Which Stock Will Replace AIG on the DJIA? (AIG, MO, HON, GOOG, AAPL, CSCO, PEP, BRK-A, CL, MDT, ABT)

There is one critical aspect to the stock market that pertains to American International Group (NYSE: AIG) which has been given less coverage because of the media’s focus on the turmoil in the stock markets.  AIG is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones industrial average, the most widely known stock market index.  AIG is on the verge of imploding, and even if it survives it will be a shadow of its former self.  So this brings up a key question: Which company will replace AIG in the DJIA?  This seems like it will likely take place soon.  As you will see below, we have made many possible selections here.

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Posted on: September 16, 2008 – 12:38 pm in ETF, Index, , , , , , , , , , ,

Another Stent Failure For Boston Scientific (BSX)

95129cInvestors have another reason to bail out of Boston Scientific (BSX). It has been in a battle with the medical research community for over a year fighting the perception that its drug-coated stents may be unsafe.

Comments about the potential danger of stents has sharply cut their use for treatment of cardiovascular disease.

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Posted on: September 1, 2008 – 11:26 am in Medical, , ,

This Week’s BioHealth & Biotech Top Stories

We saw another exciting week full of news for key developments in drug stocks, biotech stocks, medical device stocks, and other companies involved in various aspects of health care and medicine.  Below are some of the stock tickers we covered over at BioHealthInvestor.com this week:

  • STOCK TICKERS: ABT, BSX, MDT, JNJ, SRDX, ANPI, BAYRY, MAXY, AMGN, CRA, INGN, CELG, MRK, SNY, GSK, AKRX, ARYX

This week we saw another FDA Approval in stents as Abbott’s (NYSE: ABT) XIENCE drug-eluting coronary stent was approved for marketing.  While this is causing a resurgence in stents, this space is about to become highly competitive (stocks covered: ABT, BSX, MDT, JNJ, SRDX, ANPI).  Introgen (NASDAQ: INGN) has a new twist for head and neck cancer… give it a cold, literally.  Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ: CELG) actually won out as a competitor’s bone marrow disease trials failed to meet expectations.  Merck (NYSE: MRK) was an FDA decision winner as it gets to keep its lead on the cervical cancer vaccine market in the U.S. tied up for at least 6-months longer than it was anticipated (stocks covered: MRK, SNY, GSK).

This may be a tiny company, but a patent was awarded in bone marrow and stem cell transplants.  While a biotech turned over its hemophelia treatments to a larger company, hemophelia treatments may be better off now (stocks covered: BAYRY, MAXY, AMGN).  Vaccine awards are going to keep sales up at one small vaccine maker.  One Alzheimer’s Disease treatment that originally had high hopes has bitten the dust.  P&G walked away from a partner this week, killing a tiny biotech (stocks covered: PG, ARYX).

And on the front for reviews:

  • Do you remember all the hype and hopes for synthetic blood?  This looks like the last player has gone on to greener pastures.
  • What is a good investment that has backed way off from highs that should show steady growth in the China health care sector?  We evaluated one potential company for this.

These issues are more stock issues than anything else:

Have a happy and safe LONG Fourth of July weekend.  I think there is a new treatment on the market for burnt hand trauma from fireworks, but the FDA has it on hold until next February.

Jon C. Ogg
July 4, 2008

Posted on: July 4, 2008 – 7:31 am in Biotech, Healthcare, Medical, The Week, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 7/3/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, US stock indices entered a bear market phase.

Reuters writes that Yahoo! (YHOO) and Microsoft (MSFT) are exploring media tie-ups with other internet companies..

Reuters reports that The Weather Channel may be sold within the next few days.

Reuters reports that Lehman (LEH) will pay mid-year bonuses to employees in stock.

Reuters reports that Chevron (CVX) says supply worries are drving oil prices

The Wall Street Journal writes that Abbott’s (ABT) drug coated stent has been approved.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Nvidia (NVDA) warned on profits.

The Wall Street Journal writes that United Health (UNH) will pay $912 million to settle suits.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft (MSFT) began to offer a subscrition based version of Office.

The New York Times reports that AMR (AMR) announced big job cuts.

The New York Times writes that more firms are pulling Asian IPOs as the market weakens.

The FT writes that the Nikkei’s run of losses is the longest in 40 years.

Bloomberg writes that an interest rate rise in Europe could drive oil prices higher.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: July 3, 2008 – 2:50 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , ,

The 24/7 Wall St. Ten Worst Managed Companies In America (JAVA)(SHLD)(BSX)(SBUX)(S)(CC)(MOT)(AMD)(AIG)(PFE)

With the trading year almost half over and results from the first quarter out, 24/7 Wall St. has created the latest installment of its Ten Worst Managed Companies In America list.

This analysis is based on: 1) one year and five year stock performance relative to the major indexes and other companies in the industry, 2) the company’s position in its industry both now and over the last five years, 3) whether management made identifiable and critical decisions which hurt the company, 4) a change in the company’s relative market strength compared to its competition, and 5) whether the company could have identified mistakes and changed course quickly enough to avoid a catastrophe.

Some readers will think it is not fair to include companies which have had a recent change of management. While it may be true that a new CEO gets a "honeymoon", if his early, significant decisions do not create a substantial change in the company’s fortunes there is little reason to hope for later improvement.

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Posted on: June 18, 2008 – 5:51 am in Management Change, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setbacks Back At Boston Scientific (BSX)

Boston Scientific (BSX) has been the "gang who couldn’t shot straight" of the medical device business for some time. It spent far too much money to buy another medical company, Guidant. For all of its trouble, BSX ended up with almost $8 billion in debt and over $15 billion in goodwill. Watch for some of that to be written off.

The next stumble for BSX was that clinical studies showed that bare metal stents, small mesh pipes used to keep arteries open, did just as well as drug-coated stents to help patients with blockages. Drug-coated stents are more profitable. When their safety was called into question,sales went off a cliff.

BSX has two significant competitors in the stent business. One is Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and the other is Abbott (ABT). Today a major medical study showed that after two years the Abbott Xience V product was much more safe for patients than the Boston Scientific Taxus stent.

According to Reuters, "In the 1,002-patient study, sponsored by Abbott, 7.3 percent of Xience patients experienced a major cardiac event, compared with 12.8 percent of Taxus patients, researchers said."

The fact that Abbott financed the research does smell a bit.

Nevertheless, if the data is confirmed by other studies, BSX investors get to brace for another round of trouble. Its shares trade for $13, down from a two-year high of over $20. A price of $10 may end up being more realistic.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: May 13, 2008 – 12:47 pm in Medical, , ,