The global medical devices industry is fairly large and is valued at roughly $223 billion, with the U.S. accounting for approximately 41%. The industry is divided into different categories such as Cardiology, Oncology, Neuro, Orthopedic, Aesthetic Devices and Healthcare IT. In the medical devices space, we recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. These companies provide a strong recurring stream of revenues as patients are unable to forego these products. Furthermore, investors should allocate funds to companies with high-earnings-quality profiles. Large companies with a wide portfolio of products are also better poised for good returns. These companies are capable of withstanding the current economic recession. Another area which is interestingly poised for growth these days is Healthcare IT. The landscape has changed since the Obama Administration passed a health care stimulus package to encourage hospitals and physicians practices to modernize their health record keeping. ...

Stryker Corporation (SYK), one of the world’s largest medical device companies operating in the global orthopedic market, reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Net sales in the quarter were $1,634.3 million, a decline of 4.6% year over year. The company was hurt by a slowdown in MedSurg businesses and foreign currency (FX) headwinds. Excluding FX, net sales were roughly flat, compared to last year.

In terms of business segments: Orthopaedic Implants sales were roughly flat year over year at $1,014.2 million. The company witnessed strong U.S. sales buoyed by higher shipments of reconstructive, trauma, spinal and craniomaxillofacial implant systems. However, international sales were lower due to currency headwinds. MedSurg Equipment sales declined 11% year over year to $620.1 million. This segment was hurt by the global economic slowdown with patients delaying their surgical operations. Lower shipments of surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems, endoscopic, communications

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Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, medical device stocks have fared slightly worse than the overall market, losing roughly 400 bps more than the S&P500 (-31%) since September 1, 2008, on a market weighted basis. We continue to recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. We believe these products will remain insulated from the longer-term effects of the current economic crisis because target patients will be unable to forego procedures. The initial slide in the market left many strong companies looking very attractive. In the coming year, investors should allocate funds to companies with high earnings quality profiles. We recommend companies with the following characteristics: Size – (1) Larger companies will find it easier to survive any future liquidity issues and acquire new technologies at cents on the dollar.  
(2) Size also refers to the average ticket price per product the company sells. As hospitals cut their capital ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 11, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Industry Outlook. Today's interview is with senior analyst Christopher Titus, who talks about the Medical Devices Industry, including St. Jude Medical (STJ), Baxter (BAX) Becton Dickinson (BDX), Boston Scientific (BSX) and Haemonetics (HAE).

A synopsis of today's Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678.

The medical products industry is very diverse, and some boats sit much higher in low tide than others. Even during recent economic turbulence, many of these names will continue performing well on a financial basis.

Areas within our coverage that should perform well include cardiovascular devices and surgical equipment, blood related products, and associated consumables. The names currently on our BUY list that we believe provide safe vehicles over the coming

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Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, medical device stocks have fared no better than the overall market with both down roughly 30% since September 1, 2008, on a market weighted basis. We continue to recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. These should remain insulated from the current economic crisis as target patients are unable to forego procedures. The recent slide in the market has left many strong companies looking very attractive.

In the coming year, investors should allocate funds to companies with high earnings quality profiles. We recommend companies with the following characteristics: (1) Size - Larger companies will find it easier to survive any future liquidity issues and acquire new technologies at cents on the dollar. (2) Size also refers to the average ticket price per product the company sells. As hospitals cut their capital spending budgets, allocations for large ticket

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Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, medical device stocks have fared no better than the overall market with both down roughly 30% since September 1, 2008, on a market weighted basis. We continue to recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. These should remain insulated from the current economic crisis as target patients are unable to forego procedures. The recent slide in the market has left many strong companies looking very attractive.

In the coming year, investors should allocate funds to companies with high earnings quality profiles. We recommend companies with the following characteristics: (1) Size - Larger companies will find it easier to survive any future liquidity issues and acquire new technologies at cents on the dollar. (2) Size also refers to the average ticket price per product the company sells. As hospitals cut their capital spending budgets, allocations for large ticket

...

Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, medical device stocks have fared no better than the overall market with both down roughly 30% since September 1, 2008, on a market weighted basis.  We continue to recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. These should remain insulated from the current economic crisis as target patients are unable to forego procedures. The recent slide in the market has left many strong companies looking very attractive.

In the coming year, investors should allocate funds to companies with high earnings quality profiles.  We recommend companies with the following characteristics:   

Size - (1) Larger companies will find it easier to survive any future liquidity issues and acquire new technologies at cents on the dollar.(2) Size also refers to the average ticket price per product the company sells. As hospitals cut their capital ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - April 13, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Industry Outlook. Today's interview is with senior analyst Christopher Titus, who talks about the Medical Devices Industry, including St. Jude Medical (STJ), Baxter (BAX), Becton Dickinson (BDX), Boston Scientific (BSX) and CR Bard (BCR).

Chicago, IL - April 13, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Industry Outlook. Today's interview is with senior analyst Christopher Titus, who talks about the Medical Devices Industry, including St. Jude Medical (STJ), Baxter (BAX), Becton Dickinson (BDX), Boston Scientific (BSX) and CR Bard (BCR).

A synopsis of today's Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article

...

Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, medical device stocks have fared no better than the overall market with both down just over 40% since September 1 2008 on a market weighted basis. We continue to recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. These should remain insulated from the current economic crisis as target patients are unable to forego procedures. The recent slide in the market has left many strong companies looking very attractive.

In the coming year, investors should allocate funds to companies with high earnings quality profiles. We recommend companies with the following characteristics: Size - (1) Larger companies will find it easier to survive any future liquidity issues and acquire new technologies at cents on the dollar Scope - (1) Companies providing life-sustaining products should remain insulated from the current economic crisis, as target patients are unable to forego procedures. (2) Companies that

...

Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, medical device stocks have fared no better than the overall market with both down just over 40% since September 1 2008 on a market weighted basis. We continue to recommend that investors focus on companies providing life-sustaining products. These should remain insulated from the current economic crisis as target patients are unable to forego procedures. The recent slide in the market has left many strong companies looking very attractive.

In the coming year, investors should allocate funds to companies with high earnings quality profiles. We recommend companies with the following characteristics: Size - (1) Larger companies will find it easier to survive any future liquidity issues and acquire new technologies at cents on the dollar Scope - (1) Companies providing life-sustaining products should remain insulated from the current economic crisis, as target patients are unable to forego procedures. (2) Companies that

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