Updated Aug 13 at 11:32am ET.
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Becton Dickinson has finished signing up patients for its PREVENT trial. This study tests the effectiveness of its Phasix mesh, a material used to support tissue, in preventing hernias from forming after major stomach surgeries. Hernias are a common and expensive complication where internal organs or tissue push through a surgical cut, often requiring a second operation to fix.
This move is part of the company's push into advanced tissue regeneration. If the trial proves the mesh can prevent hernias before they happen, it would expand the product's use from a tool for fixing problems to a standard preventative step in many surgeries. This supports the company's goal of growing its interventional segment by selling more specialized, higher-value medical tools.
Source: PRNewsWire
The medical supply giant reported adjusted earnings of $3.23 per share, topping the $3.14 analysts expected. Revenue reached nearly 5 billion dollars, a 5.4 percent increase from last year. The business is showing strong momentum following its recent spin-off, with free cash flow, the cash left over after paying for operations and equipment, jumping about 45 percent to 1.7 billion dollars so far this year.
Management raised the low end of its full-year profit forecast, signaling confidence that hospital demand for its essential tools remains steady. For a company that has struggled with volatile numbers during its restructuring, this clean beat and raise suggests the "New BD" strategy is starting to deliver more predictable growth.
See the full quarter, and how our tracked metrics did
Source: 8-K filing
The recall affects needle sets used for emergency IV access in the U.S. While product recalls are common for large medical device makers, this is a area of concern because the company's past struggles with regulatory hurdles have weighed on its stock price. This appears to be a limited issue with specific lots, but it highlights the ongoing need for the company to maintain high manufacturing standards to avoid larger disruptions.
Source: Reuters
This collaboration pairs the company's drug delivery technology with a major pharmaceutical partner to support GLP-1 therapies, a popular class of drugs used for weight loss and diabetes. By providing the advanced pens or syringes needed for these treatments, the company is positioning its BioPharma Systems unit to benefit from the massive global demand for metabolic disease drugs. This is a clear example of how the company can grow by becoming the essential infrastructure for other firms' blockbuster medications.
Source: PRNewsWire
The $190 target suggests the firm sees room for the stock to rise as the company moves past its recent restructuring. This is a bit more optimistic than the average analyst target of $179, likely reflecting a view that the core medical supply business is undervalued following the spin-off of its diagnostics unit.
Source: UBS
Analysts recently raised their price targets following the company's strong third-quarter earnings report. Most analysts are split with 16 buys and 18 holds or sells, and the average target of $186 is roughly fair compared to today's price.
The company has a perfect track record of beating analyst profit targets over the last two years. Management consistently sets a bar they know they can clear.
| Expectation | |
|---|---|
| EPS | $4.06 |
| Revenue | $5.11B |
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