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Has the Express Scripts Pullback Created an Opportunity?

Express Scripts logoPharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts (ESRX), which I first wrote about on June 9, 2009, at a 2-for-1 split-adjusted price of $31.82, zipped through major, psychological resistance at $50 this winter. It pushed $59, before pulling back slightly, but I obviously still like the business model at this juncture.

Look for the company's 2011 revenue to rise 3% to 5% on new accounts and the NextRx PBM purchase, after a nearly doubling of revenue in 2010.

Continue reading Has the Express Scripts Pullback Created an Opportunity?

Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO): Health Care 'Profit Machine'

"Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is a Danish pharmaceutical company that focuses on diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals," notes Nicholas Vardy.

The editor of the Global Bull Market Alert explains, "Novo Nordisk is a quiet giant, employing 30,000 people in 76 countries; we think investors could double their money with this profit machine.

"More than 200 million people worldwide suffer from some form of diabetes. Patients with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes can't make insulin at all and need to inject it their whole lives.

Continue reading Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO): Health Care 'Profit Machine'

Accretive Health (AH): Hospital Returns

investing in hospitals"Accretive Health (AH) has been a solid performer in our Fast-Track Portfolio, jumping from $13 to nearly $20 in six months," notes Andy Obermueller.

The editor of Fast-Track Millionaire -- who focuses on long-term growth stocks -- explains, "I admit, the company is not very sexy -- helping hospitals maximize their revenue cycle. But what I've been looking at with the company is very alluring indeed.

Continue reading Accretive Health (AH): Hospital Returns

Top Picks 2011: Medtronic (MDT)

Medtronic (MDT) logoThis post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"For over 50 years, Medtronic (MDT) has been the premier medical device manufacturer in the marketplace," notes Jim Stack.

The money manager and editor of InvesTech Market Analyst explains, "With the invention of the battery-powered pacemaker in the mid 1950s, Medtronic began a long string of technological innovations.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Medtronic (MDT)

Express Scripts (ESRX): The Right Prescription?

Express Scripts (ESRX) logo"One thing that will continue to play out -- regardless of the direction of health care policy and law -- consumers and spenders of health care dollars need to spend less," notes Neil George.

The editor of The Pay Me Strategy explains, "One solution for more efficient spending comes from Express Scripts (ESRX), which is right in the thick of the issue of prescription drugs and drug costs. The Saint Louis-based company is one of the leaders in pharmaceutical benefit management.

"To get lower drug prices -- you need to not only advance the efficiency of drug processing and distribution -- but also the advancement of cheaper generic drugs.

Continue reading Express Scripts (ESRX): The Right Prescription?

Health Care Conference Highlights Speculative Innovators

health care investing"I love going to health care conferences, where companies often reveal new technologies, groundbreaking drugs, or novel ways of attacking diseases," says Marc Lichtenfeld.

The contributing editor to Investment U explains, "Here's a review of four interesting presentations I recently saw at LifeTech Capital's small-cap health care conference in Miami: Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO), Nabi Pharmaceuticals (NABI), NeoStem (NBS), and Oculus Innovative Sciences (OCLS).

Continue reading Health Care Conference Highlights Speculative Innovators

Three Health Care Stocks to Sell: Amgen, Baxter, Becton Dickinson

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.

Continue reading Three Health Care Stocks to Sell: Amgen, Baxter, Becton Dickinson

Johnson & Johnson: A Longer-Term Play, for Now

JNJ: A long-term playDiversified consumer health care products and medical device giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), which I first wrote about on May 20, 2009, at a price of $55.87, remains on the mend.

Look for JNJ's 2010 revenue to increase 3% to 4%, boosted by growth in pharmaceutical revenue, despite some sales erosion to generics. Meanwhile, new orthopedic and cardiovascular products should help the company's medical device unit perform adequately in 2010.

Meanwhile, margins should increase slightly, aided by improved manufacturing efficiency, and a restructuring. Further, there's ample room for market share gains internationally, particularly in emerging markets, despite JNJ's already strong international position and performance.

Continue reading Johnson & Johnson: A Longer-Term Play, for Now

Fidelity Heath Care (FSPHX): Pure Play in Health Care

"After one of the most remarkable market rallies since the Great Depression and on the heels of one of the worst market double dips, belief in better days has turned into a demand for proof of them," says fund specialist Jim Lowell.

In his The Fidelity Investor, the advisor looks to his latest our Spotlight Fund -- Fidelity Health Care (FSPHX), which he believes is well positioned for both its offensive and defensive qualities

Continue reading Fidelity Heath Care (FSPHX): Pure Play in Health Care

Technical trade #3: Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA)

teva technical analysisTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) engages in the development, production, and sale of a range of generic and branded pharmaceuticals, biogenerics, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) worldwide.

The long-term chart shows a stock that has never been in a bear market.

The recent resistance line is merely a pause in its long-term upward march, and it was broken by heavy buying in April. Teva ran to a new all-time high above $55, and then pulled back on profit-taking.

Continue reading Technical trade #3: Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA)

The week in preview: Eye on financial, tech, health care earnings

The earnings crunch is on. Among the many companies scheduled to report quarterly results this week are such so-called bellwether stocks as Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), DuPont (NYSE: DD), and United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS), all of which analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to report lower earnings for the recent quarter. Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD), and Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN), on the other hand, are expected to post marginal earnings growth.

Continue reading The week in preview: Eye on financial, tech, health care earnings

Recession-proof stock #5: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Recession stock: Johnson & JohnsonSome believe health care is the Holy Grail for investors in this horrible market, but I'm not so convinced.

When everyone jumps on a bandwagon, I usually like to jump off. It seems like everyone is preaching the merits of owning health care stocks. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Even the barber is touting this sector as a place to be during this recession and beyond. We shall see about that.

Instead of focusing on the space, how about looking at a specific name?

Continue reading Recession-proof stock #5: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Ten stocks to fall in love with again: #8 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Consumer health care companies are traditionally great recession plays, because no matter what happens in the economy, people still need their medicine.

For more than 100 years, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) has supplied the world with what it needs to ameliorate its ailments.

In addition to marquee consumer brands such as Band-Aid and Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson provides the world with a myriad of prescription drugs, medical devices and medical treatments that keep us all healthy.

The healing power -- and the earnings power -- of Johnson & Johnson's products has contributed to the well-being of both consumers and investors for a very long time.

And while shareholders may justifiably feel ill about the stock over the last several months, the company's long-term growth prospects will likely serve as a veritable love potion for investors in the years to come.

Take a look at all ten stocks to fall in love with again.

Jim Woods is a Senior Editor for OptionsZone.com.


Humana sputters, then hums

Humana (NYSE: HUM) reported earnings below analysts' expectations for the fourth quarter of 2008, spurring a quick sell-off of more than 3%.

The stock quickly recovered, due in part to the better-than-expected ISM report, and closed up almost 6% at $40.13.

Humana is one of the nations' largest providers of employer-based health care plans. Humana offers group health and dental plans for individuals and serves the health care needs of military families and seniors through a series of specialized plans.

The fourth-quarter earnings report disappointed analysts initially, as the report revealed a larger-than-expected decline in earnings of 28% from the previous year's fourth quarter.

Continue reading Humana sputters, then hums

Turnaround time for drug stocks? 10 top picks

"You can invest for all the right reasons and still get the wrong result," notes long-standing turnaround stock expert George Putnam, referring to the poor performance of the pharmaceutical sector in recent years.

Here, in his industry-leading The Turnaround Letter, he offers a fascinating review of 10 leading drug stocks which he now believes offer a combination of growth potential at "pretty cheap" valuations. Here is his overview.

"In 2000 and 2001, when the Internet boom was becoming a bust, many smart investors turned away from technology stocks and put their money into drug stocks. How could you go wrong with the big pharmaceutical companies?

"Demand for their products was growing as the population aged. These companies had huge research
and development programs that seemed to keep cranking out new blockbuster drugs. And most of them had great balance sheets, with many paying handsome dividends.

"Much of this reasoning has been borne out in the intervening years. Many large drug manufacturers have rung up substantial revenue gains over the last decade. So what's happened to the big drug stocks? With few exceptions they have gone sideways or down – in some cases down a lot.

Continue reading Turnaround time for drug stocks? 10 top picks

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Last updated: February 12, 2012: 06:08 AM

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