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Market Commentary (02-02-09)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:28:00 GMT

Bloomberg had this article out about how the U.S. housing market lost $3.3 trillion in 2008 AND that 1 in 6 people with mortgages are underwater, or 17%. It's not getting any better. We have pending home sales coming out today at 10:00AM - consensus 82.3 (range: 78.2 to 84, previous actual: 82.3). I'll be really surprised if pending sales remained "unchanged". Motor vehicle sales are also coming out (total consensus: 7.7M (range:7.3M to 8.1M, previous actual: 7.7M). This is another consensus estimate where it is also "unchanged". Whatever. You see, [More...]

1-Year Analysis of Healthcare ETFs

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:53:00 GMT

The accompanying table (click to enlarge) includes a summary and statistics for the 25 healthcare exchange-traded funds (ETFs) which are currently on the market. The group posted a 23.5% loss over the past year on an equal-weight basis with an average of about $400M in net assets. However, the top eight ETFs by net assets account for 88.5% of all net assets for the entire group of 25, including Healthcare Sector SPDR (XLV), Pharma HOLDRs (PPH), iShares Nasdaq Biotech (IBB), Biotech HOLDRs (BBH), iShares[More...]

Perrigo Co.: Growth And Income

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:42:00 GMT

Perrigo Co. (PRGO) has a return on equity (ROE) of 17%, more than the double the industry's average of 8%. The company's earnings per share are expected to grow by 21% over the next 3 ? 5 years, while the industry average expectation stands at 15%. Company Description Perrigo is the nation's largest manufacturer of store brand over-the-counter (non-prescription) pharmaceutical products and it manufactures store brand nutritional products. Store brand products are sold by national and regional supermarket, drugstore and mass merchandise chains under their own labels and compete with nationally advertised brands. The Company's products include analgesics, cough and cold remedies, antacids, laxatives, feminine hygiene and smoking cessation[More...]

Healthcare Investing Trends for 2009

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:37:00 GMT

Healthcare investing trends in 2009 and beyond will be affected by the new administration's plans for healthcare reform, which are summarized at the Change.gov website. A key feature of the plan is making health insurance coverage possible for all Americans using the existing network of insurers and providers. The plan relies on tax credits for small businesses and eligible individuals to help pay the cost of health insurance premiums. Also, large employers which do not offer health insurance benefits would be required to contribute a percentage of their payroll toward the cost of healthcare for their employees. Insurance companies would be required to cover pre-existing conditions and the insurance market will be reformed to eliminate anti-competitive practices, including the creation of a National Health Insurance Exchange with a variety of affordable health insurance options.[More...]

Generic Cardio Drugs Equal Brands

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:24:00 GMT

A meta-analysis review of clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals was featured today in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and concluded that cost-saving generics used to treat a variety of cardiovascular conditions produced equivalent clinical outcomes to higher cost brand name drugs. Despite this clinical evidence, the review notes that a majority (53%) of the 43 editorials analyzed had a negative opinion on generic substitution. While there are currently no ETFs on the market which feature generic drug companies, the ETF Innovators (ETFI)[More...]

Health Cost Containment Index: Expanding Into India, Impax Labs Set to Re-List

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:50:00 GMT

The ETF Innovators (ETFI) Global Healthcare Cost Containment Index profiled in the accompanying table is updated and expanded to include more companies from my recent Analysis of Generic Drug Companies from India. The index is structured to include companies with market caps between $150M-$60B, which are involved in producing generic healthcare products such as generic drugs and pharmacy benefit managers which do not have retail store and insurance components. [More...]

Stock Opportunities in a 'Roadhouse Blues' Market

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:34:00 GMT

The fear and pessimism behind major selling pressure and stock market losses can be summarized by the late Jim Morrison in a song by The Doors called 'Roadhouse Blues' – "The future's uncertain, and the end is always near." Some stocks that I follow which are trading at less than half of the 20% decline for the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) below its 50-day moving average are highlighted below. Earlier this week, AspenBio Pharma (APPY) reported that its key clinical trial was nearly 90% enrolled for AppyScore, which is a blood-based diagnostic screening test for appendicitis. APPY expects to reach the required total of 800 patients within weeks, report topline results 4-6 weeks after enrollment is complete, and file a 510(k) with the FDA in early 2009 – which is a quicker approval process for medical devices and tests compared to the PMA process. APPY is currently trading at its 50-day moving average of around 5 bucks, which is impressive given overall[More...]

A New Index of Healthcare Cost Containment Companies

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:33:00 GMT

The ETF Innovators (ETFI) Global Healthcare Cost Containment Index profiled in the accompanying table includes companies with market caps over $250M which are involved in the following two segments of the healthcare sector with the common theme of reducing healthcare costs and insurance premiums for consumers, employers, and third-party payers such as the government (through Medicare recipients) and insurance companies. Generic Healthcare Products: This category includes [More...]

Six Dividend Stocks Increases In The News

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:23:00 GMT

I regularly check the wires for companies which are increasing dividends. That way I have another control which would enable me to find promising dividend growers to add to my watchlist for accumulation. This week there were several companies announcing healthy dividend raises to shareholders. Emerson Electric (EMR),a diversified global technology company, announced that its Board has approved a 10.00% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.30 to $0.33 per common share effective fourth quarter of 2008. Emerson Electric is a dividend aristocrat which has increased its dividends for over fifty one years. The stock currently yields 3.80%. Aqua America, Inc. (WTR), a regulated utilities that[More...]

2009 Earnings Projections - Market Analysis

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:43:00 GMT

Profit forecasts for 2009 continue to be cut in large numbers. For every positive revision , there have been 6 cuts. The ratio is roughly the same whether the sample group is the S&P 500 or the larger Zacks Rank universe, which contains about 4400 stocks. There is also quite a bit of difference in what analysts are forecasting. Last night, I calculated projected earnings growth for the S&P 500 based on the lowest, consensus and highest estimates. Here are the results based on a bottom-up calculation. Lowest estimate: $71.60 (-5.8%) Consensus estimate: $91.14 (+9.5%) Highest estimate: $111.14 (+20.7%) The bottom-up estimate is calculated by using the individual earnings estimates for each company and then applying an index-weight to it. The lowest estimate uses the lowest profit forecast for each company. The highest estimate uses the highest forecast for each company. [More...]

Perrigo Initiates Shipments of Pain Drug

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:51:13 GMT

Perrigo Company, a global healthcare supplier that develops, manufactures and distributes over-the-counter (OTC) and generic prescription pharmaceuticals, nutritional products, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and consumer products, has started shipping over-the-counter Ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate tablets, 200/38 mg.[More...]

Detroit Free Press Tom Walsh Column: Drugmaker Perrigo Finds Success in Store Brands

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:05:00 GMT

Jul. 22--The disaster that is Michigan's economy has not squeezed the value out of every company in the state.
Stocks of Kalamazoo-based Stryker Corp., Detroit-based Compuware Corp. and even automotive supplier BorgWarner Inc. of Auburn Hills are all trading at prices about 50% higher today than they were two years ago.
Outshining all major Michigan stocks over that period, however, has been Perrigo Co. of Allegan, a pharmaceutical outfit that makes 30 billion pills a year.

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The First Israel Fund, Inc. Announces Performance Data and Portfolio Composition

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:47:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The First Israel Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE Amex: ISL), a closed-end equity fund, announced today its performance data and portfolio composition as of July 31, 2009.
Period NAV Total Return % Market Price Total Return % ------ ----------------- --------------------------- Cumulative Annualized Cumulative Annualized ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. has prepared this report based on information sources believed to be accurate and reliable.

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Perrigo Reports Record Sales, Earnings and Cash Flow From Operations for Fiscal 2009

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:52:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced results for its fourth quarter and full year ended June 27, 2009.[More...]

Perrigo Company Announces Quarterly Dividend

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:22:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.055 per share, payable on September 15, 2009 to shareholders of record on August 28, 2009.[More...]

Perrigo Company Will Release Fiscal Year 2009 Results on August 18, 2009

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:16:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced that it will release financial results for its fiscal year 2009 on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at approximately 8:00 a.m. . The Company will conduct a conference call at 10:00 a.m. hosted by Joseph C. Papa, Perrigo's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.[More...]

Perrigo Announces FDA Approval for Generic Version of NASACORT(R) AQ

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:51:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced that its partner Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Triamcinolone Acetonide Nasal Spray containing a paragraph IV certification. Perrigo's partner Teva was the first applicant to file a complete ANDA with a Paragraph IV certification for NASACORT AQ. The product was developed at Perrigo.[More...]

Perrigo Receives FDA Approval to Market Cherry and Cinnamon Flavored Nicotine Lozenges

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:40:00 GMT

The Perrigo Company today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market over-the-counter coated nicotine polacrilex lozenge USP, 2 mg and 4 mg in cherry and cinnamon flavors. The new products will be marketed under store brand labels and are comparable to GlaxoSmithKline's Commit lozenge, which is an aid to smoking cessation. Perrigo's Chairman and CEO Joseph C. Papa stated, 'These two approvals expand our exclusive position in the store brand nicotine lozenge category. The expanded range of smoking cessation products also includes coated mint and Fruit Chill flavored gum, uncoated gum and lozenges.' The smoking cessation category is selling at an annual rate estimated at approximately $1 billion at all retail outlets. We expect to begin shipments in the near future.Perrigo Company is a leading global healthcare supplier that develops, manufactures and distributes OTC and generic prescription pharmaceuticals, nutritional products, active pharmaceutical ingredients and consumer products. The Company is the world's largest manufacturer of OTC pharmaceutical products for the store brand market. The Company's primary markets and locations of manufacturing and logistics operations are the United States, Israel, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Visit Perrigo on the Internet .Note: Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as 'may,' 'will,' 'could,' 'would,' 'should,' 'expect,' 'plan,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'predict,' 'potential' or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These and other important factors, including those discussed under 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended June28, 2008, as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.[More...]

Pomerantz Appointed Co-Lead Counsel in Perrigo Company Securities Class Action

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:23:00 GMT

Warner vs. Perrigo Company, et al., No. 09 Civ. 2255 .[More...]

Perrigo Confirms That its Partner Synthon Has Filed for Generic Version of Xyzal(R) Solution and Announcement of Lawsuit by Sepracor/UCB

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:25:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced that its partner Synthon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application for Levocetirizine solution 2.5mg/5ml, a generic version of Xyzal solution 2.5mg/5ml. Under terms of an exclusive agreement between the companies, Perrigo has sales and marketing rights in Synthon's Levocetirizine products. The Company believes that Synthon is the first to file an ANDA with a Paragraph IV certification against Xyzal solution that can entitle it to 180 days of generic exclusivity upon approval.[More...]

Perrigo Company to Present At the Deutsche Bank 34th Annual Health Care Conference

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:03:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced that Perrigo Chairman and CEO Joseph C. Papa will present at the Deutsche Bank 34th Annual Health Care Conference on Monday, May 18, at 3:45 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston.[More...]

Perrigo Company to Present At the Bank of America and Merrill Lynch 2009 Healthcare Conference

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:31:00 GMT

Perrigo Company today announced that Perrigo Chairman and CEO Joseph C. Papa will present at the Bank of America and Merrill Lynch 2009 Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, May 13, at 10:40 a.m. at the New York Palace Hotel in New York.[More...]