It's one of those unfortunate facts of life, everyone is going to get sick at some time in their lives. It could be something as simple as the common cold or a complex series of symptoms that takes years to diagnose. The upside of all of this is that the medical business is a relatively safe bet when it comes to investments. If you see the benefit of this and want to put some money into a health care related investment, look into an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) that will give you the opportunity to hold shares in several different companies rather than trying to guess who's going to come up with the next miracle cure.
There are a couple different companies that let you get your feet wet in the medical field. You could invest in medical devices, which covers everything from stethoscopes to complicated surgical tools. iShares Dow Jones US Medical Devices ETF (NYSE: IHI) lets you in on an investment that includes leaders in the field such as Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX), Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), and Covidien, Ltd. (NYSE: COV). Each of these companies provides medical devices that hospitals simply cannot do without.
IHI looks to achieve results that correspond to the Dow Jones US Select Medical Equipment index and through a computer aided system, rather than by using money managers, they're able to charge only a 0.48% fee to maintain your stock.
Another great way to invest in the healthcare business is to buy shares in the companies who work tirelessly to provide lifesaving drugs. The Exchange Traded Fund SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals (XPH) lets you in on several of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world by following a passive management strategy that tracks the total return performance of the S&P Pharmaceutical Select Industry index.
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL), the personal computer maker, is due to report its financial results after the market close. The company is expected to post a 9% drop in earnings to 31 cents per share, according to Briefing.com. DELL shares were 1.5% higher in premarket trade (8:00 am). Dell shares were 2.7% lower about half an hour after the open.
General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is seeking funds from China Investment Corp., Government of Singapore Investment Corp. and at least two other sovereign-wealth funds. GE shares have plunged some 60% this year as the company has lowered 2008 profit target twice. But GE also raised $3 billion last month as Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK) invested in the company. GE shares declined 8.3% around 9:55 am. The company said that while it is in talks with Asian investors about joint ventures, it has no intention of raising additional capital from sovereign-wealth funds.
General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Chrysler Llc returned empty-handed from Washington as the bailout plan for the automotive sector seems hanging by a thread. The sought after compromise couldn't be reached and the Senate canceled plans for a vote Wednesday. The Bush administration and congressional Republicans have rejected Democrats' plan to dip into the $700 billion Wall Street rescue fund for a $25 billion automotive sector bailout. Interestingly, some think no bailout will not send the stock market off a cliff. Meanwhile, Chrsyler still wants to merge with GM -- little wonder there.
However, GMAC Financial Services has applied to the Federal Reserve to become a bank holding company. If approved, it would allow GM's financing arm to be eligible for aid under the Treasury's $700 billion bank rescue plan, automotive bailout or not. Still, GM shares were down about 10% in premarket trade (8:05 am), just as Ford's were up 3.2% (8:05 am). GM shares were beaten down another 11.5% around 9:55 am, Ford's were down some 4.8%.
"We are seeing quality names at fire-sale prices, and I think you must take advantage of that," says income expert Nilus Mattive in Dividend Superstars. Here's a trio of favorites.
"Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) recently reported great third-quarter results. The company tripled its profits from the same period a year ago. While last year's results were hurt by a one-time charge, Pfizer is obviously seeing continued demand for most of its drugs.
"I consider the stock dirt cheap, and while there is a slim chance of a dividend reduction, the shares absolutely belong in your long-term income portfolio at this level.
"I feel the same way about General Electric (NYSE: GE). While profits were down 22% this quarter, the company still boasts a AAA credit rating and a very attractive yield. It is a solid long-term income holding.
"Huaneng Power (NYSE: HNP) has been punished along with the rest of China's stocks. But things are going well on the fundamental front. The company increased its power generation 12.7% in the first three quarters of 2008, and revenues gained 36.8% over the same period a year earlier.
"It may post a loss because coal prices remain elevated, but I remain bullish on the company's long-term prospects, and consider it the best dividend-paying Chinese stock to own."
Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.
Today's weak and horrible jobs numbers did not wreck the markets because they were actually a tad less horrible than yesterday's whisper numbers. It is amazing when 6.5% unemployment and -240,000 jobs to make 1.2 million jobs lost this year is GOOD NEWS.
American International Group (NYSE: AIG) rose on multiple reports that federal officials are looking at ways to ease financial pressure on the insurance giant. Shares were up over 11% at $2.08 right before the close.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) rose after its earnings came in well above plan considering that it had set the bar so low. Despite a revenue warning, value buyers had this graphics card giant trading up 13% at $8.61 right before the close.
QUALCOMM (NASDAQ: QCOM) was a surprise gainer today after trading down this morning. The CDMA cellular chip and wireless standard giant missed earnings and guided estimates down on weakening cell phone sales trends. Shares were up almost 8% at $35.57 right at the close.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) was under more pressure this morning, but rose throughout the trading day. Goldman Sachs downgraded this stock today down to a SELL rating, yet shares were uo almost 3% at $16.84 right before the close of the day.
Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) was actually flirting with positive territory at 3:59. Considering it sold $11 billion in stock at $27.00, it is amazing that it was only down 0.1% at $28.72 in the seconds before that unofficial closing level.
Jefferies upgraded shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) to Hold from Underperform on valuation. The stock has gone down 40% since they initiated coverage on September 19. The firm maintains a $29 target.
Barclays upgraded Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) to Equal Weight from Underweight citing the $425M private equity investment, which reduces liquidity risk, and its reduced cost structure.
tw telecom (NASDAQ: TWTC) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.
AmeriCredit (NYSE: ACF) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Friedman Billings.
Analyst downgrades:
Jefferies downgraded Macquarie Infrastructure (NYSE: MIC) to Hold from Buy to reflect the company's sensitivity to the economic slowdown and funding risk. The firm lowered their target to $9 from $40 after the company announced a dividend reduction.
Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) was cut to Sell from Neutral at UBS due to the company's exposure to potential generic competition and a lack of new products.
Friedman Billings downgraded Cleveland Cliffs (NYSE: CLF) to Market Perform from Outperform and lowered their target to $42 from $50 to reflect the risk of further production cuts.
Credit Suisse lowered Acme Packet (NASDAQ: APKT) to Neutral from Outperform.
Delta Petroleum (NASDAQ: DPTR) was downgraded at Deutsche Bank to Sell from Hold.
Siemens (NYSE: SI) was downgraded to Sell from Buy at UBS.
Analyst initiations:
Goldman initiated Bristol-Myers (NYSE: BMY) with a Buy rating and $27 target as they believe it is making progress in becoming a mid-sized specialty biopharmaceutical company. The firm expects the company to be active in M&A and to spin-off or divest its slow-growth or fast-growing assets, such as virology and oncology.
Goldman believes Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) needs a "radical transformation" and restructuring that includes a break up, spin and merger in order to outperform over the next several years. Shares were assumed with a Sell rating and $19 target.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was initiated with a Neutral rating and $65 target at Banc of America. The firm prefers to be on the sidelines given uncertainties surrounding 2009 revenue growth and the potential for negative rhetoric out of Washington on pharma costs.
Acorda (NASDAQ: ACOR) was started at RBC Capital with an Outperform rating and $30 target.
The stock price of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has been declining this morning. Pfizer canceled the development of an obesity drug for which many had high hopes, especially in light of the looming 2011 Lipitor blockbuster cholesterol drug patent expiration. Pfizer may find it hard to post growth without it.
Pfizer is not the only pharma that has recently canceled the same class of obesity drugs. Only Wednesday, Sanofy Aventis (NYSE: SNY), after stopping sales in Europe of its version of the drug, Acomplia, also stopped clinical trials on humans. Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) stopped development of a similar drug candidate called Taranabant a few weeks ago. Those companies all had high hopes the drug could be used for smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol along with obesity. According to Bloomberg, only Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) is still developing a similar medicine.
Why are they all stopping? Mostly because they figured regulators around the world will not approve the drug due to negative psychiatric side-effects. This class of drug works on blocking the pleasure centers in the brain, specifically, it blocks the cannabinoid type 1, or CB1, receptors. If cannabinoid sounds familiar, it is because this is the very same pleasure centers that give marijuana smokers the "munchies." By blocking these centers, studies have shown people have become depressed and had suicidal thoughts.
Perhaps not having chemical and pharmaceutical degrees I'm missing something, but it seems rather straight forward that if one's pleasure centers are blocked, depression could ensue. Even if it just blocks one specific type, that could be enough to create an imbalance.
Usually regulators weigh costs, risks and benefits of the drug and the condition treated, often approving drugs with severe side effects. These drugs are our best option currently. But drug companies should change their attitude somewhat, and when developing new drugs, place more emphasis on looking at the the body as one whole entity, and see how the drug interacts with the rest of the body, not just if it can treat the specific condition.
U.S. stock futures were lower Tuesday morning, indicating Wall Street is poised for a tough start after the Dow rallied 413 points Monday. Corporate earnings gave way to signs of a thaw in money markets and a possible second stimulus plan helped sentiment Monday. Today it will be all about earnings as several Dow industrials are due to report as well as other big names.
American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) reported late Monday, saying its profit fell 24% in the third quarter due to less spending by cardholders and as more are having trouble paying off debt. Still, the drop was less than expected and AXP shares are up 4.7% in pre-market trading.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) shares are also trading higher in pre-market -- 2.3% higher -- after it reported results this morning. The world's biggest drugmaker's profit tripled because of higher sales of the pain pill Lyrica and lower costs from the 11,000 job Pfizer had cut last year. The results beat estimates.
Dupont deNemours & Co. (NYSE: DD) shares, however, are trading 1.9% lower in pre-market trading after the chemicals giant cut its 2008 earnings view after reporting third-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates.
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) and 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) are two Dow components that have also just reported earnings.
Goldman upgraded Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) to Buy from Sell and added shares to its Conviction Buy List citing valuation. The firm also upgraded the Semiconductor Capital Equipment Sector to Attractive.
Morgan Keegan believes Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) will emerge from the slowdown as a stronger company with greater market share and expansion into adjacent markets. Shares were upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
Daimler (NYSE: DAI) was upgraded at UBS to Neutral from Sell.
Friedman Billings upgraded Mariner Energy (NYSE: ME) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation and the company's upcoming catalysts in the deepwater GOM.
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman.
Deutsche Bank cut Hess Corp (NYSE: HES) and Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) to Hold from Buy and Suncor (NYSE: SU) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) to Sell from Hold after cutting their oil price forecast for 2009 to $60/bbl and 2010 to $58/bbl.
Merrill downgraded Akzo Nobel (OTC: AKZOY) to Neutral from Buy on expectations the company's coatings end markets will worsen and chemicals division will see pressure next year.
Monster (NASDAQ: MNST) was lowered at Citigroup to Hold from Buy.
Wall Street's optimism in last week's preview about the earnings of tech stocks wasn't misplaced, as there were many more positive surprises than negative ones among the stocks we looked at. This week will bring plenty more data for investors in and watchers of the sector to mull over. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), for example, are expected by analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial to post modest earnings gains from a year ago, to $1.11 per share (on $8.1 billion in sales), $0.72 per share (on $31.3 billion in sales), and $0.47 per share (on $14.8 billion in sales) respectively. All three of these companies ended the week closer to their 52-week lows than highs, and analysts on average consider them each a buy.
Here's a look at some of the week's biggest expected earnings gainers and decliners in the sector:
Baidu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU): $1.25 per share (+44.0%) on revenues of $134.7 million (+103.2%)
Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM): $0.44 per share (+38.6%) on revenues of $1.3 billion (+33.8%)
QLogic Corp. (NASDAQ: QLGC): $0.31 per share (+29.0%) on revenues of $170.0 million (+21.2%)
FLIR Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR): $0.32 per share (+28.1%) on revenues of $275.2 million (+44.0%)
Juniper Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: JNPR): $0.30 per share (+26.7%) on revenues of $927.4 million (+26.2%)
Waters Corp. (NYSE: WAT): $0.75 per share (+17.3%) on revenues of $391.6 million (+11.1%)
There's no question that Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), whose corporate colleagues include Merck (NYSE: MRK), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), is a respected institution on Wall Street. It's a proud member of the Dow, and we all know the company's products: Band-Aid, Listerine, etc. J&J also makes diagnostic equipment and pharmaceuticals. It's truly a respected icon, as Steven Halpern found out.
Investors will be digging through J&J's third-quarter numbers next Tuesday, looking not only for signs about the economy but for signs about J&J itself. After all, everyone wants a defensive stock in their portfolios. A lot of companies aren't looking so defensive these days. Could J&J be the one?
According to Earnings.com, you shouldn't get too excited in terms of growth. The call for the bottom line is $1.11 per share. That would only represent low single-digit percentage growth. Of course, these days, that might be exciting enough. As to whether or not the bottom line will beat the analysts, I suppose the game is completely changed at this point, but I figure J&J will pull through on that count. It all depends on how much we can trust history given the brave new economic world we are suddenly faced with. According to this earnings analysis source at AOL Finance, J&J beat estimates the last four times at bat. Due to this strong recent trend, I'll assume J&J will deliver the goods.
So, let's assume J&J does please the Wall Street analysts. What then? Well, it's really going to be the outlook that's going to tell the ultimate tale. We'll have to see if management is going to give some positive thoughts during the conference call. What does management think about commodity costs and margins? What about the cash flows? Then there's the dividend and the share-repurchase program, two things which investors of J&J count on for long-term value. Management had a few things to say about these issues the last time around (please see the following transcript of the Q2 conference call). I think management is going to be cautious, but I don't feel that there will be any disastrous notes struck during the discussion with analysts.
Jefferies upgraded shares of Safeway (NYSE: SWY) to Hold from Underperform on valuation as they believe the company's pricing pressure and sluggish sales trends are now priced in. The firm raised its target to $23.50 from $21.
Merrill upgraded Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to Buy from Underperform citing attractive dividend yield and stabilizing businesses.
Banc of America upgraded shares of Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL) to Neutral from Sell and raised APOL's target to $60 from $48 on valuation as they see a balanced risk/reward at current levels.
Nucor (NYSE: NUE) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
U.S. stock futures turned higher Wednesday after the Federal Reserve, in a coordinated move with other central banks, cut rates by half a point to 1.5%, in an effort to help credit markets and boost financial markets. Before the rate cut, futures were lower as Wall Street was about to join global markets in a world-wide plunge that saw the Nikkei down 9.4% and European main markets down 5-6%. On the economic front, August pending home sales released later today might crimp the mood somewhat.
Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) kicked off earnings season after the close Tuesday. The world's third-largest aluminum producer reported a 52% drop in third quarter profit as sharply lower aluminum prices and lower demand hurt results. AA shares are down 4% in pre-market trading.
American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) -- in what could only be described as unbelievable nerve, days after the $85 billion federal bailout loan, AIG spent $440,000 on a posh California retreat for its executives that included spa treatments and much more. Lawmakers were enraged over the thousands of dollars AIG spent on executives even as the company was staving off bankruptcy. It seems it is morally bankrupt. AIG stock is recovering 5.4% this morning after the rate cut.
The story of ImClone Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: IMCL) in its endeavor to sell itself surely feels by now like a never-ending saga, with twists, derisive comments from management and even a mystery. I guess that with Carl Icahn at the helm it's not surprising; he would always try to get the best price he could.
After Icahn announced nearly a month ago that ImClone has a mystery suitor that would pay $70 a share to Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)'s offer of $60 a share, today the mystery was unraveled and the suitor revealed. (I must admit I was somewhat skeptical, almost thinking this was some sort of tactic by Icahn to get to BMY, but he was serious.) While Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has been the name most tossed around as the likely candidate, another name that's been cited -- Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY) -- turned out to be the one.
As it was, after a rival buyer was revealed, Bristol indeed increased its bid for ImClone to $62 per share last week, but since Icahn insisted the unnamed large pharma company was willing to pay much more, he exchanged some very colorful comments with Bristol's chief.
The Wall Street Journal finally reported this afternoon it is Lilly that is in advanced talks to acquire ImClone for about $6.1 billion. There's no doubt Lilly would benefit from ImClone's one and only product, Erbitux -- a lucrative cancer drug. Also, as Lilly sees its drugs come off patent, and with its own poor pipeline of cancer drugs -- not to mention its recent troubles getting new drugs past the FDA -- this acquisition would make sense.
The deal's deadline is tonight. If Lilly indeed issues a formal offer, I bet Icahn hopes Bristol would increase its offer as not only does BMY already own about 17% of ImClone, it also co-markets Erbitux, and is simply seen by many as the natural buyer. I doubt we've seen the last of this story.
U.S. stock futures were much higher Tuesday morning, following Monday's historic record plunge of 777.7 points in the Dow after the House of Representatives failed to pass the proposed $700 billion bailout plan. Investors hope a similar rescue package would pass soon and will tune in to listen to President Bush at 8:45 a.m. EST. Meanwhile, across the globe, Europe bailed out another bank, but markets in Europe are mixed. Asian markets, which close earlier, recorded mostly large declines. Also on tap today is data from the housing sector and a measure of Chicago-area manufacturing and consumer confidence for September.
It is also quite possible many have come in to buy at these prices for at least a short-term gain. If the VIX volatility index is any indication, then stocks may climb in the next few weeks.
Of stocks in focus:
National City Corp. (NYSE: NCC), whose stock plunged over 63% Monday on overall weakness but also as Moody's Investors Service placed its senior debt rating of A3 on review for a possible downgrade, is bouncing back over 15% 30% in pre-market trading.
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), which MOnday agreed to acquire Wachovia's (NYSE: WB) banking business for a knock-down price of $2.16 billion, with help from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is also seeing its stock recovering from the over11% drop Monday by about 5.5% in pre-market action.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) - after leading a tech selloff Monday and setting a new 52-week low, AAPL shares are showing much of a rebound. Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), which closed at $381 Monday, is showing some signs of new life, bouncing over 3% to $394 in pre-market trade. Similarly RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) is bouncing 3.8% this morning.
Today's weak and horrible jobs numbers did not wreck the markets because they were actually a tad less horrible than yesterday's whisper numbers. It is amazing when 6.5% unemployment and -240,000 jobs to make 1.2 million jobs lost this year is GOOD NEWS.
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U.S. stock futures were lower Tuesday morning, indicating Wall Street is poised for a tough start after the Dow rallied 413 points Monday. Corporate earnings gave way to signs of a thaw in money markets and a possible second stimulus plan helped sentiment Monday. Today it will be all about earnings as several Dow industrials are due to report as well as other big names.
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