DaVita Inc. (DVA) reported third quarter net income of $110.9 million or $1.06 per share, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 99 cents. The company earned $93.9 million or 89 cents in the comparable quarter of 2008.  Revenues for the quarter came in at $1.57 billion, which reflected an 8.3% increase over the year-ago quarter. According to segments, revenues from the Dialysis and Related Lab Services segment for the quarter came in at $1.49 billion as against $1.38 billion in the prior-year quarter. Other - Ancillary Services and Strategic Initiatives segment generated revenues of $83 million as against $69 million in the year-ago quarter. Highlights of the strong display in the reported quarter included consistent volume growth, stable private pricing and strong cash flows.  Total treatments for the quarter came in at approximately 4.34 million, or 54,927 treatments per day, representing a per ...

  Baxter International Inc. (BAX) today reported third quarter fiscal 2009 earnings per share of 98 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 97 cents and the year-ago earnings of 88 cents. The company also raised its outlook for full fiscal 2009.   Sales Net sales in the quarter were roughly flat year over year at $3.1 billion. An unfavorable foreign currency translation (FX) adversely affected net sales. Excluding FX, net sales increased approximately 6% year over year. On a geographic basis, domestic sales accounted for approximately 42% of total sales and increased 5% year over year. International sales declined 4% year over year. In terms of business segments: BioScience revenues increased 2% year over year to approximately $1.4 billion. Growth was due to higher sales of recombinant products (including ADVATE), antibody therapies and biosurgery products. This was partly offset by lower demand for plasma proteins.   ...

Baxter International (BAX) is seeing bullish earnings projections. The current full-year Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.79 per share was increased from $3.77 over the past 3 months. For 2010, the forecast jumped from $4.24 to $4.28 over the same time frame.

Company Description

Baxter International develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma and other chronic and acute medical conditions.

As a global diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide. The company's products are used by hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors' offices, clinical and medical research laboratories, and by patients at home under physician supervision. Baxter manufactures products in 26 countries and sells them in more than 100 countries.

Higher Forecasts

The company is

...

Yesterday, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (KERX) announced positive long-term results from an open-label extension trial of its kidney drug, Zerenex. This oral, iron-based compound treats elevated serum phosphorous levels (hyperphosphatemia) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis.

Results revealed that serum phosphorous was well-controlled under the drug’s effect. The mid-stage trial involved 29 patients in Taiwan who were followed for a year. Prior studies of the drug did not exceed 28 days.

The study also indicated that Zerenex could maintain phosphorus content at a normal level when used over an extended period of time. Additionally, signs of potential iron overload in the blood were not displayed. Zerenex is expected to enter a late-stage study at the end of the year.

As per data from the US Renal Data System, America has nearly 485,000 ESRD patients. This is projected to rise to about 785,000 by 2020. The majority

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 27, 2009 – 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: China Life Insurance Company (LFC), American International Group (AIG), Deutsche Bank (DB), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Amgen (AMGN).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

China Life’s Profits Grow

China Life Insurance Company (LFC), the leading life insurer in China, has posted a 15% rise in profits in the first half of 2009 compared to the prior-year period. The company earned 18.2 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) in the first half

...

Yesterday, Amgen (AMGN) said that Aranesp failed in a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study that was conducted in patients with chronic kidney disease (not requiring dialysis), anemia and type II diabetes.

The study, referred to as the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Endpoints with Aranesp Therapy (TREAT), had two primary endpoints. The first evaluated time to all-cause mortality or cardiovascular morbidity including heart attack, congestive heart failure, hospitalization for angina, or stroke. The second primary endpoint evaluated time to all-cause mortality or chronic dialysis.

Aranesp could not show statistically significant improvement in either. While a higher number of strokes were observed in the Aranesp-treated group compared to the placebo arm, we note that drug’s label already carries a warning regarding the stroke events.

Full efficacy and safety analyses are yet to take place. Amgen will present full results at an upcoming medical meeting later this year.

Aranesp

...

I recently highlighted a small biotech firm, ISIS Pharmaceuticals, as a potential “value” growth play. ISIS took a tumble after earnings despite being just a penny off of estimates. Despite slightly lower than expected earnings, the Company showed a strong cash position, moderate cash burn, and a likelihood that it would be able to at least make it through full trials for its most promising drug. I know that for some even this doesn’t count as value. Afterall, the Company is not free cash positive and any value ascribed to the Company is derived from future expectations of its drug pipeline of which there are none currently in distribution.

For those looking for more proven business models but still looking to take advantage of the coming shift towards genetic pharmaceuticals as opposed to small molecule pharmaceuticals, a look at ISIS’s partners may clue you into some

...

After market close yesterday, DaVita Inc. (DVA) reported second quarter net income of $105.8 million or $1.02 per share, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents. The company reported a net income of $95.0 million or 90 cents per share in the comparable quarter of 2008.   Net operating revenues for the quarter were $1.52 billion, which reflected an 8% increase over the year-ago quarter. Highlights of the strong display in the reported quarter included consistent volume growth, stable private pricing and strong cash flows. Total treatments for the quarter were 4,228,179, or 54,207 treatments per day, representing a per day increase of 5.2% over the year-ago quarter. Non-acquired treatment growth in the quarter was 4.5% over the prior year's second quarter. The company expects non-acquired growth to be around 4% for the year. The largest provider of dialysis services to patients ...

PennyOmega.com Stock Report!

PennyOmega.com Hot Stock News & Alerts!

 

Wednesday August 5, 2009

PennyOmega.com Stock Report!

**************************************************************

The Quigley Corporation, (Nasdaq: QGLY) www.quigleyco.com today reported net sales of $1.7 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, compared to net sales of $2.1 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (NYSE Amex: GTE), a company focused on oil exploration and production in South America, today announced that testing of Costayaco-7 has been completed. In addition, production operations are continuing at a reduced level while repairs continue with the Ecopetrol-operated Trans Andean Pipeline west of Orito.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF), a leading global creator of flavors and

...

PennyOmega.com Stock Report!

PennyOmega.com Hot Stock News & Alerts!

 

Friday July 31, 2009

PennyOmega.com Stock Report!

**************************************************************

Euro Tech Holdings Company Limited (Nasdaq: CLWT) today announced that it has recently completed the 300,000 shares stock buyback program authorized in November 2008. The Board of Directors has also approved a new program to repurchase up to 300,000 shares of its issued and outstanding stock by July 31, 2010. This gives Euro Tech the ability to purchase the stock in the open market or through negotiated or block transactions from time to time based on market and business conditions over the next 12 months.

Gaiam, Inc. (Nasdaq: GAIA), a lifestyle media company providing information, media, products and services to

...