Vanguard Growth ETF

For the last several quarters, Medtronic has consistently exceeded analysts’ earnings estimates.

In 2016, AbbVie’s (ABBV) drug Humira reported revenue of ~$16.0 billion, which reflected a ~15% year-over-year (or YoY) rise.

For fiscal 1Q18, Kors’s EPS came in at $0.90, or $0.28 higher than the estimate. Its revenue fell 3.6% YoY to $952 million but still beat the consensus estimate.

In 2016, Biogen’s (BIIB) interferon therapies, Avonex and Plegridy, together reported revenues of around $2.8 billion, which reflected a drop of ~6% on a year-over-year (or YoY) basis.

Under Armour (UA) has an enviable earnings record. It’s beaten the market consensus on quarterly earnings and sales for over five years in a row.

Michael Kors Holdings Limited (KORS) is slated to report its 1Q18) earnings results on Tuesday, August 8. Here’s what you need to know.

The PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) class consists of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, Merck’s Keytruda, and Roche’s Tecentriq.

In fiscal 2016, Foot Locker made $5.3 billion in US sales, representing 71.6% of its total revenue. In contrast, international revenue came in at $2.1 billion.

AbbVie (ABBV) aims to position its investigational therapy Rova-T (rovalpituzumab tesirine) as a standard of care treatment for patients with SCLC (small cell lung cancer).

If we dig into the S&P 500 and the S&P Growth indexes, we can see that they have the highest exposure to information technology (or IT).

In 4Q17, Biogen’s (BIIB) interferons generated revenues of $645 million, which reflected a 6% decline YoY and a 3% decline on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) will announce its 4Q17 and fiscal 2017 results on January 31, 2018. It has launched some innovative products and entered into strategic collaborations and partnerships.

In 3Q17, Align Technology trained nearly 1,000 doctors in China.

Baxter International’s 2017 cash flow Between 9M16 (the first nine months of 2016) and 9M17, Baxter International’s (BAX) cash flow rose by $514 million to $933 million, exceeding its cash flow of $905 million in fiscal 2016. In fiscal 9M17, Baxter had operating cash flow of ~$1.3 billion, up $405 million from fiscal 9M16. In fiscal 2017, Baxter expects to […]

AbbVie (ABBV) is focused on advancing its already strong position in the hematologic oncology segment in 2018.

The smart beta approach aims to benefit from market inefficiencies to deliver higher risk-adjusted returns and improve diversification.

Boston Scientific (BSX) stock fell ~7.5% on November 28, 2017, triggered by the speculation of bad news.

Allergan stock has fallen ~15.4% in 3Q17. It has fallen 9.8% year-to-date as of October 20, 2017.

Medtronic (MDT) expects its diabetes business to witness a temporary sequential drop in revenues in 2Q18 and then return back to growth in the second half of fiscal 2018.

According to a Deloitte report, the biosimilars market is expected to grow to a market value of more than $445.0 billion by the end of 2019.

Boston Scientific (BSX) expects to register 2017 revenues of $8.9 billion–$9.0 billion compared to its previous guidance of $8.8 billion–$8.9 billion.

In 2Q17, Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ (VRTX) Orkambi generated revenues of around $324 million, which reflected a whopping ~32% growth on a year-over-year (or YoY) basis and ~10% growth on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

On June 19, 2017, Medtronic (MDT) experienced a global technology glitch, which led to IT disruption throughout the company.

In 2Q17, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ (REGN) Dupixent generated revenues of $28.6 million.

Becton Dickinson (BDX) is the leading player in the US dispensing business. Its Pyxis system sales contribute significantly to the company’s total revenues.

Proton therapy market opportunities The proton therapy market is a highly lucrative opportunity area for Varian Medical Systems (VAR). Proton therapy uses protons for treating cancer instead of X-rays. According to a Medgadget report, the global proton therapy market is expected to double by the year 2022. Though the United States has the biggest proton […]

In 2Q17, Celgene’s (CELG) Otezla generated revenues of around $358 million, which reflected ~49% growth on a year-over-year basis.

To further expand the label of its transcatheter heart valve (or THV), SAPIEN 3, Edwards Lifesciences (EW) is currently involved in enrolling patients in its EARLY-TAVR trial.

In 2016, Bristol-Myer Squibb’s (BMY) Orencia reported revenues of around $2.3 billion, which represents a ~20% YoY rise.

In March 2017, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) announced promising results from two phase-3 clinical trials, Evolve and Expand.

In 2016, Celgene’s (CELG) Otezla generated revenues of around $1.0 billion, a 116% year-over-year (or YoY) increase.

After Dupixent’s commercial launch, Regeneron has been involved in creating awareness for the drug among physicians who have been treating AD patients.

Most of Stryker’s emerging market sales are from China. However, Europe and emerging markets sales have witnessed high growth in recent quarters.

Amgen’s (AMGN) Kyprolis has gained considerable market share in second-line multiple myeloma (or MM) indication since its launch in 2012.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals has planned five clinical trials in 2017 to test the potential of investigational next-generation C5 antibody, ALXN1210, as a treatment option for complement-mediated diseases.

Stryker has registered strong revenues and earnings in the last few quarters.

The BD Medical business generated revenues of ~$8.7 billion in fiscal 2016, which ended September 30, 2016.

AbbVie’s (ABBV) Venclexta has been granted FDA breakthrough therapy designation as a first line therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy.

Specialty Brands had a 69% in Mallinckrodt’s total revenue in 2016, while Specialty Generics had a 31% share.

The Federal Reserve’s second last meeting of 2016 is now over, leaving only one meeting left in which the central bank can enact a rate hike.

A bull run with legs In Richard Bernstein Advisors’ October Insights newsletter, after dismissing the belief that the Federal Reserve is to blame for stock price inflation (IWD) (VTV), Richard Bernstein moved on to explain the reason for the current bull run. Stating that “fundamentals have improved dramatically, and have been a major support to the […]

The credibility of the Federal Reserve was a concern raised by some policymakers at the September FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting.

Dupilumab has a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for the indication of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults.

Varian Medical Systems (VAR) had gross orders value of $310 million in 2015.

An assessment of a bull market isn’t complete without looking at the companies’ PE ratios. Generally, the ratio rises during a bull market.

Dentsply Sirona (XRAY) is the largest manufacturer of dental equipment and technologies in the world. The company was formed in February 2016.

Intuitive Surgical follows a diversified sales strategy and doesn’t generate more than 10% of its revenue through any one customer.

Although Medivation’s (MDVN) Xtandi is a leader in the oncology space, it has significant opportunity in the urology space as well.

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) reported ~$697 million in total revenue in 1Q16. Of that, ~$134 million was contributed by the company’s Critical Care segment.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Defitelio is the first and only approved treatment that increases survival in VOD patients with multi-organ dysfunction (or MOD).

Media companies primarily derive their revenues mainly from affiliate fees and advertising. Affiliate fees are the carriage fees paid per month per subscriber by multichannel video programming distributors like Comcast and Dish Network.

While minimum volume commitments work well, in general, things change in a sustained low commodity price environment. Currently, this is the case.

Pay-TV operators like Dish are offering a skinny bundle of channels to woo these Millennials back to pay-TV. However, media companies have been reluctant to license their channels to skinny bundles.

The consensus revised 12-month target price for Regeneron is now $523.8, suggesting a ~42.6% return compared to its closing price of $367.2 on February 9.

In partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb, AbbVie is exploring elotuzumab to treat relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. The drug also received a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA on May 19, 2014.

Nvidia has been found guilty by the US International Trade Commission judge for infringing on two of three patents in question.

In 3Q15, Gilead Sciences returned capital to shareholders through share repurchase programs, cash dividend programs, and warrants repurchases.

3Q15 sales of the company’s HCV products, distributed across the US, Europe, and international markets, amounted to $3.2 billion, $869 million, and $696 million, respectively.

Nike is expecting sales through wholesalers to grow at a mid- to high-single compounded annual growth rate over the next five years through fiscal 2020.

The advertising market is seeing a shift from TV to digital. The average time spent per day by US adults watching TV is steadily declining and is expected to be 36.4% of their media time in 2015.

VFC’s marketing dollars are designed to get the most returns from its stores, other retailers (wholesale customers), and its e-commerce websites.

Cost-side factors are also expected to affect profitability in fiscal 2015, with gross margin falling between 51% and 52%, down from 53.9% in fiscal 2014.

The technology sector has seen healthy growth over the past five years, generating good returns for its investors. This trend has reflected in the performance of NASDAQ-listed tech-heavy exchange-traded funds like the PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 ETF (QQQ).

The NASDAQ’s upstart image and all-electronic trading platform have attracted more technology-based companies. Many of these companies didn’t qualify to list on the NYSE when they originally went public.