First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund

According to a March 3, 2016, Bloomberg consensus of five brokerage firms, 60% of brokerage firms rated Sanofi as a “buy,” while 40% of the broker firms rated the company as a “hold.”

Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA) expects its 2017 non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) earnings per share (or EPS) to fall in the range of $4.9–$5.3.

AvalonBay’s revenue grew 7% in the first quarter, driven by rental and other income.

On October 17, 2016, Teva and Regeneron announced that the FDA had placed the Phase 2 study for fasinumab on clinical hold.

Sanofi’s (SNY) Consumer Healthcare franchise’s products include Allegra, Doliprane, and Nasacort. The segment reported a 3.1% decline in revenues at 905 million euros in 1Q16, compared to its 1Q15 revenues.

As of October 30, four analysts are tracking Sanofi. Two analysts recommend a “strong buy,” while two analysts recommend a “hold.”

Analysts are expecting GlaxoSmithKline’s revenues to increase 2.3% to 8.02 billion pounds for the third quarter of 2018.

Analysts expect Novartis’s revenues to increase ~4.9% to $13.02 billion in the third quarter of 2018.

Alcon reported revenue of ~$1.82 billion in the second quarter, a 7% rise.

Sandoz, Novartis’s (NVS) generics business, is a market leader in differentiated generics.

GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Pharmaceutical segment includes various products from different therapeutic areas including respiratory products, HIV products, immuno-inflammation products, and established products.

On August 29, Alcon announced that it had voluntarily withdrawn the CyPass Micro-Stent on a global basis, effective immediately.

GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Pharmaceuticals segment includes its HIV, respiratory, immuno-inflammation, and established products.

The Pharmaceuticals segment is expected to report growth in operating revenues in Q2 2018 with a strong performance of new respiratory products.

The healthcare industry has an average dividend yield of 1.9%.

Novartis surpassed Wall Street analysts’ estimates for earnings per share (or EPS) with reported EPS of $4.86 as compared to estimates of $4.82 for 2017.

On January 29, 2018, Sanofi (SNY) announced that it had agreed to acquire Ablynx (ABLX) for 3.9 billion euros.

Trelegy Ellipta could enable GlaxoSmithKline to compete aggressively with other respiratory players such as Novartis (NVS).

In 1Q17, 2Q17, and 3Q17, Tafinlar+Mekinist reported revenues of $187 million, $216 million, and $224 million, respectively.

Assurant’s (AIZ) revenue fell 27% and 18% in 2016 and 9M17, respectively.

In 3Q17, Novartis’s COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) portfolio reported revenues of $165 million, which with ~2% higher YoY and 1% higher QoQ.

Assurant’s revenue and earnings in 2015 and 2016 Assurant’s (AIZ) revenue fell 1% and 27% in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Its US revenue rose in 2015 before falling in 2016, and its international revenue fell in both years, along with its net earned premiums, net investment income, and net realized gains on investments. Its fees and other […]

Launched in US markets in June 2017, Kevzara (sarilumab), Sanofi (SNY) and Regeneron’s (REGN) IL-6 receptor antibody, has received favorable feedback from the physician community.

Sempra Energy’s revenue for the first half of 2017 rose 7.0%, driven by every segment.

In 1H17, Novartis’s (NVS) Promacta/Revolade reported revenues of around $385 million, which reflected ~33% growth on a year-over-year (or YoY) basis.

Three analysts were analyzing Novartis in September 2017. One analyst recommended a “strong buy,” while the other two recommended a “hold.”

How TechnipFMC intends to maintain its yield FMC Technologies and Technip merged to become TechnipFMC (FTI) in 2017, an international provider of subsea, onshore, offshore, and surface projects. The synergy aims to combat the challenges of low oil prices and a challenging outlook through cost cutting and the enhancement of efficiency. The company recorded 51% revenue […]

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) reported revenues of 7.32 billion pounds in 2Q17—12% growth compared to revenues of 6.53 billion pounds in 2Q16.

Novartis (NVS) reported flat revenues of $12.24 billion on a constant-currency basis for 2Q17. This included a 2% decline due to foreign exchange.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) met Wall Street analysts’ estimate for EPS at $0.74. It also surpassed the estimates for revenues.

Franklin Resources (BEN) has recorded consistent growth in dividends since at least March 1982.

General Medicines Sanofi’s (SNY) generic business contributed ~5.1% of its total revenue in 2Q17. The business reported revenue of 442 million euros in 2Q17, an 8% decrease from 2Q16. Revenue fell due to lower sales in US markets, European markets, and emerging markets. This fall was partially offset by the growth in the rest of […]

Sanofi (SNY), one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, reported operational growth of 5.5% to reach revenue of 8.7 billion euros in 2Q17.

Target’s (TGT) sales for 2016 fell 6.0% due to lower comparable store sales and weak store traffic.

Intel (INTC) released its 2Q17 results on July 27, 2017. The company’s revenue and EPS for the first half of 2017 rose 8.5% and 72.0%, respectively.

GSK’s Pharmaceuticals segment’s contribution to the company’s total revenues was 59.5% in 2Q17.

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR) paid 74.1% of its earnings as dividends in 2016 compared to 56.7% in 1Q17.

Analysts expect to see a growth of ~11.4% in GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) 2Q17 revenues, which are expected to total nearly 7.3 billion British pounds.

The overall contribution of the Innovative Medicines segment was ~67.6% at $8.28 billion for 2Q17.

The overall contribution of Novartis’s (NVS) Innovative Medicines segment is ~67.0% of its total revenues.

The sector has seen the weakest growth in its top and bottom lines due to uncertainty in terms of sector reforms.

Qualcomm (QCOM) recorded a year-over-year decline in revenues for 2Q17 after growth in the preceding quarter.

Novartis reported EPS of $1.13 on revenues of $11.54 billion for 1Q17, which represents 2% YoY operational growth in revenues.

Sanofi’s (SNY) Generics business contributes ~5% to the group’s total revenues.

Novartis’s (NVS) Innovative Medicines segment includes products for therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiometabolic, immunology, and dermatology.

Sanofi’s (SNY) Consumer Healthcare segment reported a 1.6% YoY (year-over-year) fall in revenues at 3.33 billion euros (about $3.56 billion) in 2016.

Currently, an estimated 7,000 patients suffer from pediatric ALL in the US, Europe, Japan, Canada, and Israel.

Sanofi’s (SNY) Established Prescription Products segment contributed nearly 30.5% of the company’s total revenues in 2016.

Sanofi (SNY) reported a YoY (year-over-year) revenue growth of ~1.2% at constant exchange rates for 2016.

Novartis (NVS) expects modest prescription growth for its heart failure drug, Entresto, in 1Q17.

Novartis’s valuation has followed the industry’s overall trend over the last five years. Whether the healthcare sector’s valuation rises or falls, Novartis will definitely be affected.

In 2016, AstraZeneca’s (AZN) poly ADP-ribose polymerase (or PARP) inhibitor, Lynparza, managed to report revenues close to $218 million.

The revenues for AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Oncology segment rose ~20% at constant exchange rates in 2016.

Sanofi’s (SNY) established prescription products contributed nearly 28.9% of the company’s total 4Q16 revenues.

On January 31, 2017, Novartis was trading at a forward PE multiple of ~15.2x. Based on its last-five-year multiple range, this is neither high nor low.

Sandoz, the Generics segment of Novartis (NVS), is second-largest generic medicines provider worldwide and number one in differentiated generics.

Analysts expect an ~1.1% decline in Novartis’s (NVS) 4Q16 revenues to ~$12.4 billion following the effects of the acquisition and divestiture of several products.

The overall contribution of the innovative medicines segment was ~67% at $8,173 million for 3Q16.

On October 26, 2016, AstraZeneca (AZN) announced that Lynparza managed to demonstrate a superior clinical profile in the Phase 3 SOLO-2 trial.

Teva Pharmaceutical’s (TEVA) generic research pipeline is expected to result in more than 30 first-to-file (or FTF) launches in 2016 and 2017.

In 3Q16, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA) reported increased price erosion of about 7.0% for its US-based business compared to 3Q15.

Novartis’s (NVS) Innovative Medicines segment contributed ~67.0% at $8.2 billion for 3Q16.

Based on the last five years’ multiple range, Novartis’s current valuation is neither high nor low. The PE multiple has ranged from ~9.0x to ~20.0x.

In his November Insights newsletter, Richard Bernstein stated, “It is incredible that investors have basically been wallflowers during the second longest bull market of the post-war period.”

AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Oncology segment is another key company focus area. The segment’s contribution rose to over 17% in 3Q16.

For 3Q16, AstraZeneca (AZN) reported a 4.1% fall in its top line at $5.7 billion.

A legitimate bull market In this series, we’ve taken a look at Richard Bernstein’s views on investors’ fear of an impending bear market. In Richard Bernstein Advisors’ October Insights newsletter, he rejects the notion that the current rise in US stocks (SPLV) (OEF) has been brought about only by the Fed’s easy monetary policy. In the […]

From 2011 to 2015, Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) diabetes care franchise sales have risen at a compounded average growth rate (or CAGR) of approximately 11.5%.

With a 46% share of the global insulin market, Novo Nordisk (NVO) is currently a leading player in the diabetes care segment.

As one of the early entrants in biosimilars, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA) has managed to become one of the biggest players in the biosimilar space.

After the acquisition of Allergan’s generics business and divestitures, Teva Pharmaceutical has become a leading player in the global generic industry.

According to a Bloomberg consensus of five brokerage firms on September 12, 60.0% of analysts rated Sanofi as a “buy,” while 40% rated it as a “hold.”

Established Rx is Sanofi’s largest franchise, with a share of 30% of total sales in 2Q16 totaling 2.6 billion euros, or about $2.9 billion.

During the second quarter of 2016, Sanofi’s aggregate sales declined by 0.2% to about $10 billion. Its diabetes and cardiovascular franchise fell by 2%.

On September 8, 2016, Sanofi was trading at a forward PE multiple of 12.17x—at a greater discount than peers Eli Lilly, Merck & Company, and Novo Nordisk.

Sanofi (SNY) plans to become a leading company in the CHC business. The asset swap will exclude Boehringer Ingelheim’s CHC business in China.

Teva Pharmaceutical is currently facing litigations in which competitors are challenging the orange book patents it holds for Copaxone 40 mg.

AstraZeneca reported a gradual shift of positive contributors from key drugs such as Nexium and Synagis to new products in growth platforms.

AstraZeneca’s stock value has increased 11.9% over the last 12 months. Analysts estimate that it has the potential to return 17.8% over the next 12 months.

Sanofi reported a net profit of ~1.7 billion euros (about $1.9 billion) in 2Q16—a decline of 8.7% in net profits over 2Q15.

Kellogg announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share on its common stock—paid on June 15 to shareowners of record at the close of business on June 1.

AstraZeneca (AZN) reported an increase of 1% in its top line to $6.1 billion in its 1Q16 results.

Novartis’s annual estimated EPS for 2016 came in at $4.80, with a fall of ~1.5% in annual revenues to ~$48.7 billion and a gross margin rising to 73.1%.

Analysts expect a growth of ~7.8% in GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) 2Q16 revenues, to 6.4 billion British pounds.

Novartis (NVS) reported no change in revenues on a constant currency basis for 2Q16, as compared to 2Q15, in its earnings release on July 19, 2016.

Sandoz accounted for $9.2 billion, or 18%, of Novartis’s net sales during 2015.

Since February 2016, generic drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors have been expressing increased concern over the expected price deflation in the industry.

In a falling interest rate environment, the PE ratio rises because investors are keen to increase the time horizon of their investments.

Sanofi Pasteur, the Human Vaccines business of Sanofi (SNY), reported an 8.2% increase at constant exchange rates in its 1Q16 revenues at 625 million euros.

Kellogg plans to return its “Kashi” brand to growth in 2016. It aims to lead in plant-based nutrition and win with “food forward” consumers.

Sandoz is the generics arm of Novartis (NVS). For 1Q16, Sandoz contributed ~21.1% of the total revenue at $2.44 billion.

Lesinurad, originally developed by Ardea Biosciences, was acquired by AstraZeneca through the acquisition of Ardea in June 2012. It works to reduce the uric acid levels in gout patients.

First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund is a smart beta fund by First Trust that seeks to replicate the performance of the Value Line Dividend Index.

Fiscal 2015 has seen a considerable falls in the First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund due to the weak economic environment and SPY’s poor performance.

Archer Daniels Midland reported earnings per share of $0.60 in 3Q15, missing consensus estimates by 18%. When compared to 3Q14, EPS has fallen by 30%.

The iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVY) is majorly invested in the utilities, financials, and consumer staples sectors.