Posts for Ticker ‘MDT’

Top Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (BRK-A, CMCSA, MDT, TAP, NVAX, LNUX, THQI, YMI)

These are this mornings top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen early this Thursday from Wall Street research calls:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A) was put on CreditWach (negative) on Wednesday afternoon, which would take the AAA away to match where Moody’s already is.
Comcast (CMCSA) Cut to Hold at Collins Stewart.
Medtronic (MDT) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Molson Coors (TAP) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
NovaVax (NVAX) Started as Buy at Merriman Curhan.
SourceForge (LNUX) Cut to Neutral at Merriman.
THQ Inc. (THQI) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
YM BioSciences (YMI) Started as Buy at Merriman Curhan.

You can join our open email distribution list to get updates on top analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader alerts, IPO’s, secondary offerings, Warren Buffett and other guru activity, M&A and more.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: November 5, 2009 – 8:23 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 10/1/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   Ken Lewis will step down as CEO of Bank of America (BAC)

Reuters:   Cisco (CSCO) bought Tandbeg  for $3 billion.

Reuters:   The IMF raised forecasts for US GDP but warned on its growing debt.

Reuters:   Turnaround experts say the collapse of CIT (CIT) would be a mess. Read More »

Posted on: October 1, 2009 – 4:08 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Lame Blame on Short-Termism

Bull and Bear ImageThere is a very silly notion being brought to you by the Aspen Institute Business & Society Program’s Corporate Values Strategy Group and what is admittedly a rather impressive list of names joining it. It is a call to end “Short-Termism” in the financial markets.  Imagine a long-term financial utopia where investors did not have to trouble themselves with the day in and day out wranglings of the stock market or the economy.

Imagine if quarterly earnings, monthly same-store-sales, quarterly or annual guidance, key turns in the demand cycle, interruptions or obsolescence of a business model and other issues were just able to be smoothed over.  Now imagine investing in this sort of a climate.  This idea sounds great on paper and probably looks great on economic models and charts that are the basis for the notion because it goes along with the current theme of thinking for the long-haul and doing what is best for everyone else.  The problem is that this is the most silly and perhaps dangerous notion for the public to embrace.  This is a path for investors large and small to get drummed, slapped, duped, discouraged and a few other things we decided not to print.
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Posted on: September 9, 2009 – 12:10 pm in Accounting, Activist Investor, Brokerage Firms, Buffett, Economy, Editor's Picks, Exchange News, Labor & Unions, Regulation, Research, Shareholder Issues, Utilities, Value Investing, , , , , , ,

Media Digest 7/23/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   Obama says healthcare reform is essential to the recovery.

Reuters:   CIT (CIT) bond advisers will push for Chapter 11.

Reuters:   Democrats will fight with banks on consumer agency.

Reuters:   Amazon (AMZN) bought Zappos for $829 million.

Reuters:   Porsche approved Qatar talks and fired its CEO.

Reuters:   Bristol-Myers (BMY) bought Medarx (MEDX) for $2.4 billon. Read More »

Posted on: July 23, 2009 – 2:57 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 6/24/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   The head of a Congressional watchdog committee is pushing for a consumer protection agency.

Reuters:   China defended its export policies against a WTO complaint.

Reuters:   Citigroup (C) intends to raise the base pay of key employees.

Reuters:   Apple’s (AAPL) Jobs has an excellent prognosis after recent surgery. Read More »

Posted on: June 24, 2009 – 2:53 am in Autos, Banking, Cable Companies, China, Commodities, Compensation, Consumer Electronics, Drug companies, Earnings, Internet, Labor & Unions, Mergers and Buy Outs, Press Digest, Private Equity, Regulation, Semiconductors, Wireless, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 6/17/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   Obama proposed sweeping reform for financial industry.

Reuters:    A number of large banks repaid TARP. (JPM)(GS)(BBT)(COP)(STT)(AXP)(USB)

Reuters:   Consumer prices show inflation is in check.

Reuters:   China could still be a big buyer of US debt.

Reuters:   NYSE will create a derivatives clearing house. Read More »

Posted on: June 18, 2009 – 3:07 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 2/25/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaper13According to Reuters, Obama set out his goals in an address before Congress.

Reuters reports that UAW leaders are urging members to vote for the new Ford (F) contract.

Reuters reports that The San Francisco Chronicle may fold. Read More »

Posted on: February 25, 2009 – 3:59 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 2/24/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaper12According to Reuters, JPMorgan (JPM) cuts its dividend.

Reuters reports that AIG (AIG) got bids from Met Life and Axa for its life unit.

Reuters says that healthcare spending is taking a higher percentage of American spending.

Reuters reports that Yahoo! (YHOO) will offer tools that match users to ads. Read More »

Posted on: February 24, 2009 – 4:05 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Medtronic Adjusts Long-Term Goals (MDT)

Medtronic_logoMedical devices was supposed to be recession-proof, or at least was supposed to be recession-resistant.  But we have seen over and over how this notion has not been the case.  Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today highlighted further evidence that medical technology has to adjust to a new, harsher environment.

Read More »

Posted on: January 12, 2009 – 3:12 pm in Earnings Warning, Medical,

10 CEOs To Go In 2009: James Tobin of Boston Scientific (BSX)

Generally speaking, we do not like to bring CEOs back from a past "list of CEOs to go."  James Tobin of Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX) has somehow managed to hang on to his job and continue to destroy shareholder value.  This is not just a poor job on his part, but it is becoming a poor job on part of the board of directors who have a fiduciary duty to do what is best for the company. Tobin deserves no reprieve for even more reasons than we outlined before.

Read More »

Posted on: December 5, 2008 – 11:04 am in Management Change, Medical, , ,

Media Digest 11/19/2008 Reuters, WSJ, New York Times, FT, Bloomberg.

NewspaperAccording to Reuters, Toyota (TM) cut production and Nissan was downbeat about its prospects.

Reuters reports that if a new CEO at Yahoo! (YHOO) wants to be well-regarded by shareholders, he or she must be willing to do a deal with Microsoft (MSFT).

Reuters reports that oil is trading steady around $54.

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Posted on: November 19, 2008 – 3:57 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.

Read More »

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

Media Digest 10/17/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

NewspaperAccording to Reuters, policy makers around the world are trying to deal with the fact that the economy is moving into a deep recession.

Reuters writes that Google (GOOG) exceeded forecasts and its shares rose.

Reuters reports that banks borrowed $438 billion a day from the Fed last week, a record.

Reuters reports that many executives saw conditions weakening before the crash.

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Posted on: October 17, 2008 – 2:57 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Read More »

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

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (CENT, CSUN, EP, FSLR, INTU, MDT, MU, NOV, NUE, PALM)

These are ten of the analyst calls we are focusing on this morning:

  • Central Garden (NASDAQ: CENT) raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • China Sunergy (NASDAQ: CSUN) raised to Hold at Jefferies.
  • El Paso (NYSE: EP) Cut to Neutral from Buy By Goldman Sachs.
  • First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) Cut To Underperform From Mkt Perform By FBR.
  • Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) Cut To Hold From Buy By Citigroup.
  • Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) Raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Micron Technology (NYSE: MU) Raised to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  • National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV) Cut to Add from Buy at Calyon.
  • Nucor Corp (NYSE: NUE) Cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
  • Palm (NASDAQ: PALM) Cut to Sell from Neutral at UBS.

Jon C. Ogg
May 21, 2008

Posted on: May 21, 2008 – 7:03 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

IPO FILING: Salient Surgical Technologies, Inc. (SLNT, MDT)

Salient Surgical Technologies, Inc. has filed to come public via an initial public offering and has applied to trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker "SLNT."  The company lists that it will sell up to $86.25 million in securities for filing purposes.  Co-lead managers are listed as Bear Stearns and Piper Jaffray, and Wachovia Securities in listed as a co-manager.

This company offers what it refers to as clinical applications of Transcollation(tm) technology for the sealing of blood vessels and other collagen-based structures.  These are for medical procedures such as liver resection, spine surgery, total hip athroplasty, and total knee athroplasty. Transcollation technology has been used in over 165,000 surgical procedures to date. Its principal Transcollation product is called the Aquamantys System and it was launched commercially in March 2006, and it is comprised of single-use handheld devices and a radio frequency energy generator system.

Unlike many medical technology companies that have filed to come public, this one is now operational with at least some revenues. As of December 31, 2007, it claimed to have some 437 active customer accounts in the United States, a 44% increase over the comparable period in 2006.  It also notes that its target market remains substantially underpenetrated and it believes the current accounts represent only an approximate 10% of hospitals in the United States which perform its targeted procedures.  Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $29.5 million, a 75% increase from 2006.

While most of the Dover, NH-based company’s backers are VC’s, it does note that entities affiliated with Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) are listed as being a 8.8% owner of the company.

Jon C. Ogg
March 13, 2008

Posted on: March 13, 2008 – 9:25 am in IPOs, Medical, ,