The past week's data-point-of-consequence for investors had to be investment decisions by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A).

Buffett ended positions in several stocks in the fourth quarter, including the Bank of America (BAC), Nike (NKE), Fiserv (FISV), Becton Dickinson (BDX), Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), Lowe's Co.s (LOW), Nalco (NLC) and Nestle (NSRGY), according to a filing, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Berkshire added to a holding of only one stock in the fourth quarter: Wells Fargo (WFC).

Option traders appear to be setting up for a bullish move on CA Technologies (CA). Traders plowed into 4,799 new call option contracts -- 13.87 times the average volume -- on the stock on Thursday. And we know that traders were eager to get into this trade because 98% of the trades came in on the "ask" price.

CA Technologies closed Thursday at $18.13. The stock has dropped 7.64% during the past month, but it is currently sitting at support just above $18.

Health care stocks are seen as low-risk investments by many stock market investors. After all – folks will always get sick, right? While that may be the case, it's an oversimplification to say that all health care stocks then have a built in customer base. The fact of the matter is that the health care industry has seen a big shakeup in the wake of Obama's health care reform bill and not all stocks in this sector are adapting well.

To keep your portfolio in perfect health, here are three big-name health care blue chips to sell now.

Just call it a 'June Swoon' for Becton Dickinson and Co. (BDX), as the shares have dropped to about $69.50 from highs above $80 this spring. Even so, the business model, first discussed here on March 17, 2009 at a price of $65.66, remains preferred in these circles. Here's why:

In FY2010 Becton's revenue growth should total about 5-7%, after essentially flat revenue in FY2009. Hospital spending cutbacks will hurt, but BDX should make up for that with increased government orders, lower operating costs, and moderating raw material costs. Becton's medical and diagnostic units will also likely register revenue growth at or above 5-6% in 2010; its bioscience unit will register more-modest gains.

Becton Dickinson (BDX), first discussed here on March 17, 2009 at a price of $65.66, remains well-positioned for the new U.S. health care era.

Look for Becton's 2010 revenue to surge 8-11% a a result of strong gains in its medical segment; diagnostics revenue should also rise substantially as demand for safety products and infectious disease/flu-related products sees steadily increasing global demand. Meanwhile, the bioservices unit revenue will likely trail the above, but still record 3-5% growth in 2010.

As expected, Becton Dickinson (BDX) has broken through resistance in the $65-70 range, hence it goes without saying I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on March 17, 2009, at a price of $65.66. However, the call has qualifiers, so attention is advised.

In FY2010 Becton's revenue growth should total about 5% to 7%, after essentially flat revenue in FY2009. Hospital spending cutbacks will hurt, but BDX will make up with increased government orders, lower operating costs, and moderating raw material costs. Becton's medical and diagnostic units will likely register revenue growth at or above 5% to 6% in 2010; meanwhile, its bioscience unit will register more-modest gains.

Medical equipment giant Becton Dickinson's (NYSE: BDX) stock has meandered since recommended on March 17, 2009 at a price of $65.66, with volatility, most likely due to U.S. federal health care reform legislation uncertainty, but look for better quarters ahead, when the dust settles, which is why I'm reiterating my Buy rating for the company's shares.

In FY2010, Becton's revenue growth should total about 5-7%, after essentially flat revenue in FY2009. Hospital spending cutbacks will hurt, but BDX will make up for the aforementioned with increased government orders, lower operating costs, and moderating raw material costs.

Look for Becton Dickenson to land on its feet following health care reform. I'm reiterating my Buy rating for Becton Dickinson (NYSE: BDX), first recommended on March 17, 2009 at a price of $65.66.

While other health care players are likely to sustain revenue cuts as part of health care reform, Becton, a top manufacturer of syringes, injection devices, and IV catheters, surgical instruments, and elastic bandages, among other products, will likely see only a temporarily revenue dip. The FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for BDX are $4.93 to $5.41.

How would one characterize the current investment climate? Rough sledding, at best, for equities, and a defensive posture is the rule.

Still, so long as one expects the U.S. economy to return to some semblance of normalcy -- and that's the view from here -- there are bargains to be had for those investors who can tolerate moderate risk. With the above in mind, Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE: BDX) is worth a review.

Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN) said economic conditions have led to lower than expected Q4 sales. HNSN, a developer of products for robotic catheter-based technologies, closed at $6.26. Thomas Weisel Partners has a $8 price target on HNSN. HNSN February call option implied volatility is at 115, puts are at 133, above its 26-week average of 69, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH), a drug wholesaler and medical-equipment supplier, lowered its full-year outlook on January 8 because it sees reduced hospital spending. Smith Barney has a 12-month price target of $39 on CAH. February option implied volatility of 49 is above its 26-week average of 41 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Becton Dickinson (NYSE: BDX), a medical technology company, closed at $69.11. Morgan Stanley raised its rating on BDX to Overweight. BDX February option implied volatility of 38 is above its 26-week average of 33, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The medical supplies and devices sector, East West Bancorp, Tempur Pedic and AbitibiBowater were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Credit Suisse initiated the medical supplies and devices sector with a Market Weight rating and started shares of Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) and Becton, Dickinson and Co (NYSE: BDX) with Outperform ratings and Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) and Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) with Neutral ratings.
  
• East West Bancorp (NASDAQ: EWBC) was initiated with a Buy rating and $36 target at B. Riley; the firm's target implies a 23.1% potential total return over the next twelve months including the stock's 1.35% dividend yield.
  
• Tempur Pedic (NYSE: TPX) was started with an Outperform rating at William Blair, as they find the current valuation attractive for long-term investor given the company's strong position in the specialty sleep products.
  
• Deutsche Bank resumed coverage of AbitibiBowater (NYSE: ABH) with a Hold rating and $29 target, citing the strength of the Canadian dollar and difficult newsprint fundamentals.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Banc of America initiated shares of JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) and Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) with Buy ratings and targets of $73 and $76, and initiated Horizon Lines (NYSE: HRZ) and Solarfun Power (NASDAQ: SOLF) with Neutral ratings and targets of $34 and $14.

Chuck Carlson is the newsletter industry leader in DRIPs, or dividend reinvestment plans. Not surprisingly, then, his newsletter is called The DRIP Investor.

For those unfamiliar with these programs, DRIPs are dividend reinvestment plans, which are set up by companies to make it easier and more cost-effective for individual investors to buy and accumulate long-term positions by reinvesting dividends back into additional shares.

Usually, the commissions and other related costs of DRIPs are low, and in some cases, free. Says Carlson, "All things equal, a DRIP with no fees is better than one that charges fees."

He continues, "To be sure, I'm not suggesting investors should automatically discard a DRIP because it charges fees. Still, fees erode investment returns, so taking fees into account in your selection process makes sense."

To help investors find the most cost-effective way of building portfolios, the advisor has conducted a review of "fee-free" plans. Using a proprietary system that ranks 5,000 stocks based on over 100 metrics, he has developed a "starter portfolio" for those with limited investment funds. Such a starter portfolio, he notes, could be developed with as little as $1,000 to start.

He notes, "If I were constructing a reasonably diversified starter portfolio of six "fee-free" stocks, I would focus on the following issues: