Stryker Corporation (SYK) yesterday reported third quarter earnings per share of 69 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and higher than the year-ago earnings of 66 cents. Net sales were flat year over year at approximately $1.7 billion. An unfavorable foreign exchange translation (FX) negatively affected net sales in the quarter.  Excluding FX, net sales increased 1.2% year over year. On a geographic basis, U.S. sales contributed roughly 65% of total sales and increased 0.2% year over year. International sales declined 0.3% year over year. In terms of business segments: Orthopaedic Implants sales increased 5.5% year over year to $1.0 billion. Growth was contributed by all the products, such as Hips, Knees, Trauma, Spine, and Craniomaxillofacial.  MedSurg Equipment sales declined 7.7% year over year to $637 million. The decline can be primarily attributed to lower capital spending by hospitals due to the current economic turmoil. Gross ...

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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TranS1 Inc. (TSON) announced that it expects revenue to be roughly in the range of $7.9 million to $8.0 million in the second quarter of this year, lower than its previous guidance of $8.7 million to $9.0 million but approximately 33% higher than the revenue in the year-ago quarter.   TranS1 believes that its revenue is likely to be affected by the reimbursement uncertainty surrounding its AxiaLIF procedure. The company expects to release its second quarter results on July 30, 2009, after the close.   TranS1 is engaged in designing, developing and marketing minimally invasive products that utilize its proprietary TranS1 surgical approach to treat degenerative disc disease affecting the lower lumbar region of the spine.   TranS1 is badly hurt by a reimbursement uncertainty surrounding its AxiaLIF procedure. We believe expected near-term reimbursement changes would make the pre-certification and administration process time-consuming and could create some revenue ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 10, 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: Stryker Corp. (SYK), Zimmer Holdings (ZMH), Conmed (CNMD), Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Wright Medical (WMGI).

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 Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Stryker Strikes Advanced Medical Deal

Stryker Corp. (SYK) recently signed a deal for global marketing and distribution rights of Advanced Medical Solutions Group Plc’s LiquiBand wound closure products that are used in cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) surgeries.

LiquiBand is a tissue adhesive used to close minor surgical wounds and

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Stryker Corp. (SYK) recently signed a deal for global marketing and distribution rights of Advanced Medical Solutions Group Plc’s LiquiBand wound closure products that are used in cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) surgeries.

LiquiBand is a tissue adhesive used to close minor surgical wounds and trauma. The product would be launched in European markets this month and would be followed by a phased roll out in the rest of the world.

The deal is going to be a win-win for both the companies. Stryker will earn commissions that will take care of the company’s bottom-line during these testing times of global recession. Advanced Medical can leverage Stryker’s global presence and its brand equity.

Stryker is one of the world’s largest medical devices companies operating in the global orthopedic market. The company currently has two segments: Orthopedic Implant and MedSurg Equipment. The Orthopedic Implant segment includes hip, knee, shoulder and spinal implants

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Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (ZMH) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive implants, and trauma and related orthopedic surgical products.

We believe the increase in unemployment will reduce the number of insured patients. As a result, procedures may be subject to delays, reducing revenue growth in the near-term.

On the upcoming call, we are listening for whether the stronger dollar will reverse the tailwind revenues have received over the past few years, if efforts to increase financial leverage during the recent credit crisis may have met obstacles, and if efforts to control prices of commodity inputs (futures) may pressure gross margins as prices have since retreated. Zacks Investment Research

Pharmaceutical stocks were winners today on the earnings front, and CNBC guests say they can be winners on the portfolio front as well.Robert Hazlett, pharmaceuticals analyst at BMO Capital Markets, says the sector is a good bet for the very near term.

“These companies have reasonably good fundamentals, you don’t have to take out a new mortgage to fill your prescription, they are big, liquid companies…they have robust dividends and then last, but not least, the political will for change is low in terms of these companies.”

Hazlett’s favorite stocks in the sector are Schering-Plough , which he says has no meaningful patent expirations for four to five years, and Bristol-Myers

Track his picks at:

http://trackthepros.com/stocks/category/1861

Bruce Nudell, medical supply analyst at UBS, likes Baxter International

Abbott Labs and Zimmer Holdings

Track his picks at:

http://trackthepros.com/stocks/category/1190

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