Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (SLXP) reported a net loss of 15 cents per share in the third quarter, which was significantly better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a net loss of 29 cents. The company reported a net loss of 11 cents in the year-ago period. Although revenue increased from the year-ago period, higher operating expenses led to the year-over-year increase in net loss. Total product revenue was $65.7 million, up 53%. Xifaxan continued to perform well with revenue almost doubling to $42.7 million. We believe wholesaler stocking, price increases and prescription growth were responsible for the significant increase in Xifaxan revenue. Based on the current run rate, we expect Xifaxan revenue to exceed $115 million in 2009. The bowel cleansing franchise, consisting of MoviPrep, Visicol and OsmoPrep generated revenue of $16.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, up 7.1% from the year-ago period. Gross ...

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My Picks for Thursday November 5, 2009, are:

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VGZ, Vista Gold Corp.

VGZ is an international gold mining company based in Littleton, Colorado, with a plus 20-year history of gold exploration, development and operations.

** VGZ reported an update on activities at the Paredones Amarillos gold project in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Receipt of the Temporary Occupation Permits was announced on October 28, 2009, and signals the commencement of a number of activities designed to advance the development of the project towards construction and the planned start of production in 2011.

Once in production, the Paredones Amarillos gold project is expected

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Diedrich Coffee, a leading fine coffee roaster and wholesaler, reported impressive revenue and profit figures for the first quarter 2010 (ended September 16, 2009). Total quarterly revenue increased 52% over the same quarter last year, going from $10.4 million to $15.8 million. The jump was led by a 66%, $5.8 million, increase in the sale of Keurig K-Cups, the popular one-serving coffee pods that users can pop in a coffee maker and discard. Diedrich Coffee is one of only four roasters under license to produce K-Cups for Keurig Incorporated’s top-selling single-cup brewing system.

First quarter gross margins were also up, increasing from 21% in the same quarter last year to 26% this year. Price increases helped, but other factors include a higher machine utilization, lower temporary help and overtime costs, reduction of scrap and waste due to better inventory controls, lower outbound freight costs, plus the ability to leverage fixed manufacturing

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Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN) reported a loss of 19 cents per share in the third quarter, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 30 cents. In the prior-year period, the company had incurred a loss of 47 cents. Total revenues for the quarter were $211.2 million, down 3.3% year over year.   Revenues consisted of $192.9 million in product sales and $18.3 million in collaborative payments from partner Eli Lilly (LLY). Product sales comprised $171.1 million in sales of Byetta and $21.8 million in sales of Symlin. Byetta sales declined both on a yearly and sequential basis. The company attributed the sequential decline in Byetta sales to an increase in wholesaler stocking in the previous quarter. We believe Byetta continues to be affected by safety issues surrounding the use of the drug.   Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $80.1 million from ...

Amid a sluggish retail environment, Collective Brands, Inc. (PSS), a wholesaler and retailer of footwear and related accessories, recently reported second quarter 2009 results. Despite lower operating costs and inventory management, the company continues to experience diminishing top and bottom lines hurt by lower consumer discretionary spending. Collective Brands’ second quarter earnings plunged 42.0% year over year to 29 cents a share, after falling 10.6% in the first quarter of 2009. However, the quarterly earnings were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The operator of Payless ShoeSource and Stride Rite chains, delivered revenue of $836.3 million, down 8.3% due to a fall in same-store sales, the expiration of a Tommy Hilfiger adult footwear licensing agreement and an adverse impact of foreign currency exchange rates. Total revenue fell 7.5% in the first quarter of 2009. Same-store sales continue to fall at an accelerating rate. It ...

Amgen (AMGN) reported financial results for the second quarter 2009 on Jul 27, 2009. Revenues totaled $3,713 million, down 1% from the second quarter in 2008, but far ahead of our expectations by approximately $150 million. The revenue upside was driven by strong sales of key products: Aranesp at $693 million, nearly $50 million above expectations, and Enbrel at $899 million, nearly $70 million above expectations. Other products - including Epogen at $638 million, Neupogen at $327 million, and Neulasta at $831 million - were in-line with expectations.

Sales of the company's two ESA (Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent) products, Aranesp and Epogen, declined by 8% from the second quarter 2009, reflecting the negative impact, primarily in the supportive cancer care setting, of additional product label changes that occurred in August 2008. However, market share stabilization and modest pricing strength lead to the upside to our forecasts. Sales of Enbrel increased 7%

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