Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

• Has This Stock Priced in the Near Term Risk?

  By Lee Samaha - April 29, 2013 | Tickers: COV, GE, JNJ, VAR

  One of the peculiar aspects of the market move upwards in 2013 is that the defensives have led the way while the traditionally more economically sensitive areas like technology have lagged. Indeed, anyone trying to construct a balanced portfolio is going to have to deal with the contradiction inherent in only wanting to buy value as well. What happens when the value is mainly within technology and therefore guiding you more »

• What This Industrial Giant's Results Mean to the Market

  By Lee Samaha - April 24, 2013 | Tickers: AA, GE, VAR, WHR

  Anyone who has watched the classic sales movie Glengarry Glen Ross or worked in sales will know that the acronym ‘ABC’ stands for ‘always be closing.’ However anyone who hasn’t and instead has solely listened to US blue chip conference calls over the last few years will probably conclude that it actually stands for ‘always be cost-cutting.’ In other words, investing for growth is still on the back-burner in more »

• Look out Obamacare! FOR PROFIT Healthcare is the NEW Socialism

  By Adam Weissman - February 8, 2013 | Tickers: CCM, HOLX, VAR

  This article explores how a healthcare company in China is well poised to grow and thrive in a regulated environment.

• Another Strong Year Ahead for This Well Run Company

  By Lee Samaha - February 4, 2013 | Tickers: ARAY, COV, ROP, VAR

  Another good set of results at Roper Industries (NYSE: ROP), and the company continues to execute superbly within a strong set of end markets. I think there is some upside from its key growth drivers in 2013, and Roper will need it because the stock is approaching full value. With that said, this is a very well run company, and for those willing to take a long term view it more »

• This Investment Theme Is Looking Hot for 2013

  By Lee Samaha - January 28, 2013 | Tickers: COV, GE, JNJ, VAR

  A number of healthcare companies have reported recently and given better than expected numbers, particularly in emerging markets (EM). Consequently I think this is a key theme to look at and investors should pursue it, particularly as we are in a global economy that is seeing it difficult to generate broad based growth.

  GE Reports Good Numbers

  The first industrial giant to report good results in the industry was General more »

• A SWOT Analysis of This Long Term Growth Play

  By Lee Samaha - January 22, 2013 | Tickers: ARAY, ISRG, SI, VAR

  Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) offers an attractive long term picture but it also contains some execution risk. In fact, its mix of profit drivers and stock specific risk are so rich and diverse that probably the best way to start looking at it would be via a SWOT analysis. In summary, there are many reasons to like the stock but there are also risks. I think this stock will more »

• A Billionaire Insider Bought This Healthcare Stock

  By Meena Krishnamsetty - November 2, 2012 | Tickers: BSX, EW, MDT, STJ, VAR

  On October 25, St. Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ) Board member John Brown purchased 25,000 shares of the company’s stock at an average price of $38.65 per share- an investment of nearly $1 million. Brown, a billionaire and former CEO of Stryker, joined the St. Jude Board in 2005. Insider purchases should be good signs for a stock: since an insider already has a strong economic connection to more »

• While Apple and Samsung Battle it out, Acacia Keeps Chugging Along

  By Saul Rosenthal - September 26, 2012 | Tickers: ACTG, ADI, ETFC, PCRFY, VAR

  In my blog a month ago titled “Oracle, Microsoft and Samsung Paid this Little Company Tens of Millions of Dollars Upfront,” I wrote about Acacia Research (NASDAQ: ACTG), which represents patent holders and has acquired numerous patent portfolios itself. I pointed out that they had tripled their revenues in two years from 2009 to 2011, and that they had definitely broken into the big time, having separately licensed their entire more »

• Great Values Among Battered Medical Technology Stocks

  By Streetwise Reports - April 19, 2012 | Tickers: BIO, GE, MYGN, SQNM, VAR

  Subscribe to The Life Sciences Report for more interviews with life sciences and biotech analysts.

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  George S. Mack, The Life Sciences Report

  A new device must offer a tangible bottom-line advantage.

  No industry in the healthcare sector has been shrouded with more pessimism than medical technology. It would be easy to check off all the boxes on your list of gloomy headwinds, dust off your hands and find another story more »

• Passport Special Situation Pick: Accuray

  By Meena Krishnamsetty - March 22, 2012 | Tickers: ARAY, ISRG, MAKO, SI, VAR

  Passport Special Opportunities Fund is coming off a disappointing fourth quarter - it was down -5.5% net versus 7.3% for the MSCI AC World Index and 11.8% for the S&P 500. Since inception in May 2008, the Fund has compounded at 9.7% net on an annualized basis. Over the same period, the MSCI AC World has compounded at -4.0% and the S&P 500 at more »