(Source: Business Wire)
Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: ZGEN), Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), Linear Technology (NASDAQ: LLTC), BioScrip Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOS) and Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR).
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Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:
ZymoGenetics Retains a Buy Rec
We maintain our Buy rating on ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: ZGEN) shares and raised our price target to $7.50 based on better-than-expected 4th quarter of 2008 results and outlook for 2009.
ZymoGenetics reported financial results for the 4th quarter on February 11, 2008. Revenue came in at $36.0 million, compared to our estimate of $12.3 million. The increase was primarily due to increased collaboration and license revenues and sales of RECOTHROM in the United States. Net loss per share was -$0.13, versus our estimate of -$0.48 in Q42008. For the full-year 2008, net loss per share was -$1.69, versus our estimate of -$2.04.
The company ended the year with $89.9 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The cash position should strengthen further in 2009 primarily due to the amounts expected to be received from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) under the recently announced PEG-Interferon lambda collaboration. The company expects to receive $105.0 million this quarter after completion of United States Federal Trade Commission review, and an additional $95.0 million in milestone payments will be due related to the start of phase II clinical testing for PEG-Interferon lambda, which is expected later this year.
Linear Tech: Wait & Watch
Linear Technology (NASDAQ: LLTC) is a leading OEM [original equipment manufacturer] of analog and mixed signal semiconductors. December quarter revenue was short of consensus expectations, although the EPS exceeded. Forward guidance is for a 15-20% revenue decline in the next quarter.
Management's revenue generation plans have been hard-hit by the credit crunch, and we expect revenue to decline in fiscal 2009. Additionally, considering the lower revenue and significant debt burden, cash flows may be impacted. The silver lining is the flexible operating structure, which could mitigate some of the negative impact on margins.
Buy BioScrip Ahead of Earnings
BioScrip Inc.
