Monday, September 29, 2014

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now

There appears to be a large disconnect developing within the markets - Gold has plunged nearly 8% this week and is now trading towards a critical support level around the 1180 range. The selloff in the composite of precious metals has breached the 15% mark for this month alone despite stabilizing yields and equities retracing almost 60% of the move lower from recent highs. The FX market continued to trade in favor of further USD strength this week after finding support from a string of better than expected economic data. The momentum in USD strength shifted gears after the Fed maintained their stance of QE tapering towards the end of 2013. A statement released this morning even suggested September as a possible date for the start of this process.

One major outlier that I am monitoring closely is current AUD/USD levels which seem to have disregarded the multi-handle selloff in Gold. The pair even managed to break above the 0.9300 level before fading back down to the lower end 0.9200 range. Despite the slight correction, the level of deviation is still large when looking at the historical relationship between how AUD/USD and Gold prices move. I would project a continuation lower in AUD/USD as disconnects of this extent have a tendency of going through a recoupling phase.

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: PhotoMedex Inc.(PHMD)

PhotoMedex, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a skin health company in North America and internationally. It offers disease management and aesthetic solutions to dermatologists, professional aestheticians, and consumers. The company provides no!no! hair removal products; professional products, including capital equipment to physicians and skin care specialists; XTRAC laser products for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo; NEOVA formulations for premature skin aging due to UV-induced DNA damage; Omnilux Light-emitting diode (LED) systems to treat wrinkles, acne, minor muscle pain, and pigmented lesions; Lumi�e light therapy equipment, a non-invasive skin care solution for use in non-medical applications primarily salons and spas; and topical lotions to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, and blemishes. It also provides home-use devices under the no!no! brand for various indications, including hair removal, acne treatment, and ski n rejuvenation; and a professional product line for acne clearance, skin tightening, psoriasis care, and hair removal to physician clinics and spas. In addition, the company engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of surgical products, including proprietary free-beam and Contact Laser Systems for surgery. Further, it sells surgical disposables and accessories to hospitals and surgery centers; and repairs, maintains, and provides replacement parts for the company?s products. The company is headquartered in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on PhotoMedex (Nasdaq: PHMD  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    PhotoMedex (Nasdaq: PHMD  ) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), PhotoMedex met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

  • [By Lauren Pollock]

    Skin-health company PhotoMedex Inc.(PHMD) issued a dour third-quarter report as it didn’t log any consumer sales to its Japanese distributor, which changed its business model and affected other companies besides PhotoMedex. Unless it generates revenue from Japan, the company’s current-quarter sales are poised to fall short of consensus views. Shares dropped 10% to $11.47 premarket.

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now: Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.(SBGI)

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., a television broadcasting company, owns or provides certain programming, operating, or sales services to television stations in the United States. The company broadcasts free over-the-air programming, such as network provided programs, news produced locally, local sporting events, programming from program service arrangements, and syndicated entertainment programs. It owns or provides programming and operating services pursuant to local marketing agreements, or provides sales services pursuant to outsourcing agreements to 58 television stations in 35 markets. The company was founded in 1952 and is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap media stock�LIN Media LLC (NYSE: LIN) might not be a household name, but there is a good chance you might be watching the company�� programs because like the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc (NASDAQ: SBGI) and Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc (NASDAQ: NXST), its helping to consolidate the media industry plus its making investment in other forms of media like social media. The stock has also outperformed those two peers along with the�PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio ETF (NYSEARCA: PBS).

  • [By Dan Radovsky]

    Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI  ) says it is on its way to becoming the nation's largest television broadcasting company if a� definitive agreement it signed with the Allbritton family comes to fruition, according to an announcement today by Sinclair.

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now: A. H. Belo Corp (AHC)

A. H. Belo Corp incorporated on October 1, 2007, is a newspaper publishing and local news and information company that owns and operates four metropolitan daily newspapers and several associated Web sites. The Company publishes The Dallas Morning News, The Providence Journal, The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), and the Denton Record-Chronicle. It publishes various niche publications targeting specific audiences, and its investments and/or partnerships include Classified Ventures, LLC, owner of cars.com and the Yahoo! Inc. (Yahoo!) Newspaper Consortium. The Company also owns and operates commercial printing, distribution and direct mail service businesses. The Company�� primary sources of revenue include advertising sold in published issues of its newspapers and on the Company�� Web sites, the sale of newspapers to subscribers and single copy customers, and commercial printing and distribution. In July 2012, The Dallas Morning News acquired Pegasus News (www.pegasusnews.com) from PanLocal Media LLC, a subsidiary of Archstream LLC of Dallas.

The Company�� The Dallas Morning News is a metropolitan newspapers in America. The Dallas Morning News is distributed primarily in Dallas County and 10 surrounding counties. The Dallas Morning News also publishes Briefing, a condensed newspaper distributed four days per week at no charge to non-subscribers of The Dallas Morning News in select coverage areas, and Al Dia, a Spanish-language newspaper published on Wednesdays and Saturdays and distributed at no charge in select coverage areas. The Dallas Morning News also publishes other news products targeted at communities in the North Texas area. The Dallas Morning News��financial and operating results also include The Denton Record-Chronicle.

The Company�� The Providence Journal is a newspaper in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The Providence Journal is a daily newspaper of general circulation and continuous publication in the United States. The Providence Journal a! lso publishes ProjoExpress, a weekly publication distributed at no charge to households in select Rhode Island communities. The Press-Enterprise is distributed in the Inland Southern California region, which includes Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Press-Enterprise also publishes La Prensa, a weekly Spanish-language newspaper distributed at no charge in select coverage areas, as well as The Weekly, a targeted condensed newspaper distributed mid-week at no charge to non-subscribers, and Sunday Weekly, a publication that is distributed on Sunday at no charge to non-subscribers.

In addition to its core newspaper operations, the Company and Belo Corp., through their subsidiaries, together own 6.6% of Classified Ventures, LLC, a joint venture, in which the other owners are Gannett Co., Inc., The McClatchy Company, Tribune Company, and The Washington Post Company. The three principal online businesses Classified Ventures, LLC operates are cars.com, apartments.com, and homegain.com. The Company and Belo, through Belo Lead Management LLC, have also invested in ResponseLogix, Inc. (www.responselogix.com). ResponseLogix provides advanced, Internet-based management solutions to auto dealers.

Advertising

The Company has a portfolio of print, online and digital advertising products and services. During the year ended December 31, 2011, advertising revenues accounted for approximately 61.2 % of total revenues of which 12.5 of advertising revenue was generated by the Company�� digital advertising products. Its Display advertising revenue consists of sales of advertising space within its newspapers and niche publications to local, regional or national retail and service businesses with local operations, affiliates or resellers. Its Classified advertising revenue comprises sales of advertising space in the classified and other sections of its newspapers, which include certain automotive, real estate, employment and other.

The Company�� Preprint revenue ! is earned! from sales of pre-printed advertisements or circulars inserted into its core newspapers and niche publications, or distributed by mail or third-party distributors to households in targeted areas in order to provide total market coverage for advertisers. Its Digital advertising revenue consists of sales of and other display, video, behavioral targeting, search, rich media, directories, classifieds, direct email marketing, or other advertising on digital platforms associated and integrated with the Company�� print publications, and on third party Web sites, such as Yahoo!, monster.com, and cars.com..

Circulation

Circulation revenues accounted for approximately 30.3 % of total revenues in 2011 and represent subscription and single copy sales revenue related primarily to the Company�� core newspapers. The Company�� Websites also include (dallasnews.com, providencejournal.com, pe.com and other related Websites) offering users news information, user-generated content, advertising, e-commerce and other services.

Printing and Distribution

Printing and distribution revenues comprised approximately 8.5 % of the Company�� revenue in 2011 and consists primarily of commercial printing, distribution and direct mail service. The Company provides commercial printing services, primarily for national newspapers, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today and other local newspapers. Newsprint used in the production of large national newspapers is generally provided by the customer. The Company also provides home delivery and retail outlet distribution services, for such national newspapers, as well as for regional newspapers delivered into its coverage areas, such as The Boston Globe and the Los Angeles Times. The Company also operates a direct mail service business in Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon Friedman]

    Editor's note: A previous version of this article referred to A.H. Belo (NYSE: AHC) instead of Belo Corp. (NYSE: BLC). The Fool regrets the error.�

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now: Treehouse Foods Inc.(THS)

TreeHouse Foods, Inc. operates as a food manufacturer in the United States and Canada. The company?s products include non-dairy powdered creamers; private label canned soups; salad dressings and sauces; powdered drink mixes; and hot cereals, such as oatmeal, farina, and grits in single-serve instant packets and microwaveable bowls. It also offers macaroni and cheese; skillet dinners; Mexican and other sauces comprising salsa, picante, cheese dip, enchilada sauce, pasta sauce, and taco sauce; jams and pie fillings; pickles and related products, including peppers and pickled vegetables; aseptic products, such as cheese sauces and puddings; and refrigerated salad dressings and liquid non-dairy creamer products. The company offers pickles under the Farman?s, Nalley?s, Peter Piper, and Steinfeld brand names; sauces and syrups under the Bennett?s, Hoffman House, Roddenbery?s Northwoods, and San Antonio Farms brand names; non-dairy powdered creamer under the Cremora brand na me; refrigerated products under the Mocha Mix and Second Nature brand names; jams and other sauces under the E.D. Smith and Habitant brand name; oatmeal under the McCann?s brand name; and food away from home products under the Schwartz and Saucemaker brands. It primarily serves grocery retailers, mass merchandisers, and foodservice operators through various distribution channels, including retail grocery; foodservice distributors; and industrial and export channels comprising food manufacturers and repackagers of foodservice products. TreeHouse Foods, Inc. was founded in 1862 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Anna Prior]

    Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are MannKind Corp.(MNKD), Philips NV(PHG) and TreeHouse Foods Inc.(THS)

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Calling all cash flows
    When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Treehouse Foods (NYSE: THS  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now: Medtronic Inc (MDT)

Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic), incorporated on April 23, 1957, is engaged in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people worldwide. As of April, 27, 2012, the Company functions in two operating segments that manufacture and sells device-based medical therapies. The Company's operating segments include Cardiac and Vascular Group, which consists of Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) and CardioVascular, and Restorative Therapies Group, which consists of Spinal, Neuromodulation, Diabetes and Surgical Technologies. Medtronic serves hospitals, physicians, clinicians, and patients in more than 120 countries worldwide. The Company's primary customers include hospitals, clinics, third-party health care providers, distributors, and other institutions, including governmental health care programs and group purchasing organizations. In August 2013, Medtronic, Inc. announced the closing of the acquisition of Cardiocom. Effective September 3, 2013, Medtronic Inc acquired a 30% stake in NGC Medical SpA.

Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management

CRDM develops, manufactures, and markets products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart rhythm disorders and heart failure, including implantable devices, leads and delivery systems, products for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), and information systems for the management of patients with CRDM devices. The Company's principal products offered by CRDM business include Implantable Cardiac Pacemakers (Pacemakers), Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs), Implantable Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices (CRT-Ds and CRT-Ps), AF Products, Diagnostics and Monitoring Devices and Patient Management Tools. The Company's pacemaker systems are compatible with certain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. This includes the Revo MRI SureScan with United States Food and Drug Administration approval and the Advisa and Ensura MRI SureScan models with Conformite Europeene (CE)! Mark approval. Medtronic also continues to market the Adapta product family, which includes the Adapta, Versa, Sensia, and Relia models.

The Medtronic ICDs is the Protecta family with SmartShock technology, including the Lead Integrity Alert, a technology designed to improve the detection of lead fractures. Devices in the ICD family are the Protecta XT, Protecta, Cardia, and Egida models. Medtronic also continues to market the Secura and Maximo II devices. The Medtronic CRT-Ds is the Protecta family with SmartShock technology, including Protecta XT and Protecta, and the CRT-P devices are Consulta and Syncra. Medtronic also continues to market the Consulta, Cardia, Egida, and Maximo II CRT-D devices. In addition to these devices, Medtronic has an offering of left heart leads and delivery catheters with its Attain family of products. The Company's portfolio of AF products includes the Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter designed to treat paroxysmal AF by performing pulmonary vein isolation. The Company also offers the Reveal XT Insertable Cardiac Monitor, which is designed to identify and quantify episodes of AF. The Reveal DX and Reveal XT Insertable Cardiac Monitors devices are used to record the heart's electrical activity before, during, and after transient symptoms such as syncope and palpitations to help provide a diagnosis. It has a number of patient management tools, such as CareLink, Paceart, and CardioSight Service. CareLink enables patients to transmit data from their pacemaker, ICD, CRT-D, or Insertable Cardiac Monitors using a portable monitor that is connected to a standard telephone line or cellular network using the Medtronic M-Link accessory.

The Company competes with St. Jude Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotronik, Inc. and Sorin Group.

CardioVascular

CardioVascular is comprised of three businesses: Coronary, Endovascular and Peripheral, and Structural Heart. The Coronary business includes therapies to treat ! coronary ! artery disease (CAD) and hypertension. The products contained within this business include coronary stents and related delivery systems, along with a broad line of balloon angioplasty catheters, guide catheters, guidewires, diagnostic catheters, and accessories. The products offered by its Coronary business include Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Renal Denervation. The Endovascular and Peripheral business is comprised of a range of products and therapies to treat abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The Company's products include endovascular stent graft systems, embolic protection systems, and stent systems for the treatment of narrowed iliac arteries. The products offered by the Company's Endovascular and Peripheral business include Endovascular Stent Grafts and Peripheral Vascular Intervention (PVI). The Structural Heart business offers a range of products and therapies to treat a variety of heart valve disorders. The Company's products include products for the repair and replacement of heart valves, perfusion systems, positioning and stabilization systems for beating heart revascularization surgery, and surgical ablation products. The Company's principal products offered by its Structural Heart business include Heart Valves, Transcatheter Heart Valves, Arrested Heart Surgery, Beating Heart Surgery and Surgical Ablation.

The Company competes with Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson, Cook, Inc., W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Endologix, Inc., C.R. Bard, Inc., Edwards LifeSciences Corporation, St. Jude, Terumo Medical Corporation and Sorin Group.

Spinal

The Company's Spinal business develops, manufactures, and markets a range of medical devices and implants used in the treatment of the spine and musculoskeletal system. The Company's products and therapies treat a range of conditions affecting the spine, including degenerative disc disease, spinal deformity, spinal tumours, fractures ! of the sp! ine, and stenosis. The Company's Spinal business also provides biologic solutions for the dental and orthopedic markets. The Company's Spinal products are used in spinal fusion of both the thoracolumbar region, referring to the mid to lower vertebrae, as well as of the cervical region, or upper spine and neck vertebrae. Products used to treat spinal conditions include rods, pedicle screws, hooks, plates, and interbody devices, as well as biologics products, primarily bone growth substitutes including bone graft extenders and structural allografts such as dowels and wedges. The products offered by the Company's Spinal business include Thoracolumbar Products, Cervical Products and Biologics Products.

The Company competes with DePuy Spine, Inc., Synthes, Inc., Stryker Corporation, NuVasive, Inc., Globus Medical, Inc., Zimmer, Inc., Alphatec Spine, Inc., Orthofix International N.V., Biomet, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

Neuromodulation

The Company's Neuromodulation business develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for the treatment of chronic pain, movement disorders, psychological disorders, and urological, fecal, and gastroenterological disorders. The l products offered by the Company's Neuromodulation business includes Neurostimulators for Chronic Pain, Implantable Drug Delivery Systems, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems and Urology, Fecal, & Gastroenterology Devices. The Company's portfolio of products includes the RestoreSensor (rechargeable), with the Company's AdaptiveStim technology, as well as the RestoreULTRA (rechargeable), RestoreADVANCED (rechargeable), and PrimeADVANCED (non-rechargeable) neurostimulation systems. The SynchroMed II Programmable Infusion System delivers small quantities of drug directly into the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord. These devices are used to treat chronic, intractable pain and severe spasticity associated with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, and stroke.

DBS uses a surgically implanted medical device, similar to a cardiac pacemaker, to deliver carefully controlled electrical stimulation to precisely targeted areas in the brain. The Company's family of Activa Neurostimulators for DBS includes Activa SC (single-channel primary cell), Activa PC (dual channel primary cell), and Activa RC (dual channel rechargeable). The Company's therapeutic portfolio for urology and gastroenterology includes the InterStim Therapy System, which treats the symptoms of overactive bladder, urinary retention, and chronic fecal incontinence, and the Enterra Therapy System for the treatment of chronic nausea and vomiting caused by gastroparesis of diabetic or idiopathic origin for drug refractory patients.

The Company's competes with Boston Scientific, St. Jude., Urologix, Inc. and Allergan.

Diabetes

The Company's Diabetes business develops, manufactures, and markets advanced, integrated diabetes management solutions that include insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring systems, and therapy management software. The products offered by the Company's Diabetes business includes Integrated Diabetes Management Solutions, Professional CGM and CareLink Therapy Management Software. Outside the United States, the Company offers its Paradigm Veo System, an integrated system that includes a Low Glucose Suspend feature that automatically suspends insulin delivery when glucose levels become too low. In the United States, the Company offers the Paradigm Revel System, which incorporates new CGM features, including predictive alerts that can give early warning to people with diabetes so they can take action to prevent dangerous high or low glucose events. Medtronic offers physicians a Professional CGM product called the iPro CGM and iPro2 Professional CGM. The Company offers Web-based therapy management software solutions, including CareLink Personal software for patients and CareLink Pro software, to helps patients and their health care prov! iders con! trol their diabetes.

The Company competes with DexCom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Johnson & Johnson and Roche Ltd.

Surgical Technologies

The Company's Surgical Technologies business develops, manufactures, and markets products and therapies to treat diseases and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and certain neurological disorders. In addition, the business develops, manufactures, and markets image-guided surgery and intra-operative imaging systems that facilitate surgical planning during precision cranial, spinal, sinus, and orthopedic surgeries. The products offered by the Company's Surgical Technologies business includes ENT, Neurological Technologies, Navigation and Advanced Energy. The ENT products treat diseases and conditions, such as NIM Nerve Monitoring Systems, Fusion ENT Navigation System, Hydrodebrider Endoscopic Sinus Irrigation System, Meniett Device for Meniere's Disease, Pillar Procedure for Snoring and Sleep Apnea, and Repose System for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The Neurological Technologies products treat certain neurological disorders and conditions, such as Midas Rex Spine Shaver, the Midas Rex MR7 Pneumatic Platform, the Midas Rex Legend EHS High Speed Surgical Drill, the Strata Family of Adjustable Valves for the treatment of Hydrocephalus, Duet External Drainage & Monitoring System, the IPC System, and the Subdural Evacuating Port System.

The Navigation products are used in cranial, spinal, sinus, and orthopedic surgeries, such as the StealthStation S7 Navigation and i7 Integrated Navigation Systems, the O-Arm 2D/3D Surgical Imaging System, and the PoleStar Surgical MRI System. The products make up the Advanced Energy business: PEAK Surgery System, a tissue dissection system that consists of the PEAK PlasmaBlade and the PULSAR Generator and is cleared for use in a variety of settings, including ENT, plastic reconstructive and general surgery; and the Aquamantys System, which uses patented Transcollation technology to ! provide h! aemostatic sealing of soft tissue and bone and is cleared for use in a range of surgical procedures, including orthopedic surgery, spine, solid organ resection and thoracic procedures.

The Company competes with Gyrus ACMI, Stryker Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, BrainLAB, Inc., GE Healthcare, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Philips Medical Systems, Covidien and ArthroCare Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap Arca Biopharma is dedicated to developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases with the�company's lead product candidate being�GencaroTM (bucindolol hydrochloride),�an investigational, pharmacologically unique beta-blocker and mild vasodilator that is being developed for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (��F�� in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction ("HFREF"). Arca Biopharma believes Gencaro has the potential to be the first genetically-targeted cardiovascular therapy. In addition,�the company�holds exclusive, worldwide rights to Gencaro, has been granted patents in the�US and Europe for methods of treating various cardiovascular disorders with Gencaro and has collaborated with Medtronic, Inc (NYSE: MDT)�on the Phase 2B portion of GENETIC-AF, the Company�� Phase 2B/3 clinical trial evaluating Gencaro as a potential treatment for AF.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) shares tumbled 2.23 percent to $57.88 on Federal District Court ruling preventing the company from selling its CoreValve System in the US as a result of Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) patent infringement verdict.

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cantel Medical Corp. (CMN)

Cantel Medical Corp. provides infection prevention and control products and services in the healthcare market. Its Endoscopy segment offers medical device reprocessing systems, disinfectants, detergents, and other supplies that are used to disinfect flexible endoscopes; and disposable infection control products for cleaning and disinfecting reusable components used in gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. Its Water Purification and Filtration segment offers water purification equipment and services, filtration and separation products, and disinfectants for medical, pharmaceutical, biotech, beverage, and commercial industrial markets. This segment also offers hollow fiber membrane filtration and separation technologies for medical applications; and sterilants, disinfectants, and decontamination services used in various applications for infection prevention and control. The company�s Healthcare Disposables segment offers single-use infection prevention and control healthca re products, including face masks, sterilization pouches, towels and bibs, tray covers, saliva ejectors, germicidal wipes, plastic cups, and disinfectants used principally in the dental market; and biological and chemical indicators for sterility assurance monitoring services in the acute-care, alternate-care, and dental markets. Its Dialysis segment offers medical device reprocessing systems, sterilants/disinfectants, dialysate concentrates, and other supplies for renal dialysis. The company�s Specialty Packaging segment offers specialty packaging and thermal control products, as well as related compliance training for the transportation of infectious and biological specimens and thermally sensitive pharmaceutical, medical, and other products. Cantel Medical Corp. sells its products through its direct distribution network in the United States; and directly and through third-party distributors internationally. The company was founded in 1963 and is based in Little Falls, Ne w Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Infection protection and control company Cantel Medical (CMN) raised its semiannual dividend 21.6% to 4.5 cents per share, payable Jan. 31, 2014, to shareholders of record as of Jan. 17.
    CMN Dividend Yield: 0.26%

Top 10 Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now: L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (LLL)

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, L-3 Communications Corporation, provides command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; and government services in the United States and internationally. Its C3ISR segment offers fleet management sustainment and support, such as procurement, systems integration, sensor development, modifications, and periodic depot maintenance for signals intelligence and communications intelligence systems; strategic and tactical signals intelligence systems; secure data links; secure terminal and communication network equipment and encryption management; and communication systems. The company?s Government Services segment provides communication software support, information technology services, and various engineering development services and integration support; engineering and information systems support services; teaching and training; h uman intelligence support services; command and control systems and software services; and technical and management services. Its Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance segment offers modernization and refurbishments, upgrades and sustainment, maintenance, and logistics support services, as well as turnkey aviation life cycle management services for military and various government and commercial customers. The company?s Electronic Systems segment provides components, products, subsystems, systems, and related services across various business areas, including power and control systems, electro-optic/infrared, microwave, simulation and training, precision engagement, warrior systems, security and detection, propulsion systems, avionics and displays, telemetry and advanced technology, undersea warfare, and marine services. L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Vinay Singh] company provides various security solutions in the United States and internationally.

    It has $3.75 per share in cash and enough short-term receivables to take care of its entire long-term debt. Analysts expect $8.34 in EPS for the next fiscal year, and the current stock price is only 9 times that figure, compared to a peer average of 17 times, suggesting L-3 Communications is significantly undervalued.

    Impressively, it has similar margins on both EBITDA and operating cash flow in the low double-digits, and its enterprise value implied by the current stock price is only 6.6 times trailing EBITDA. With a free cash flow margin of around 10%, the company should be able to further increase its cash reserve by $14.25 per share next year. **

    Also, the company recently raised its quarterly dividend by 10% and authorized the repurchase of as much as $1.5 billion of its stock in a bid to boost shareholder returns. It's no wonder the share count has fallen from 122 million in fiscal 2008 to 94 million at the end of 2012, and considering the management's plans on buybacks, this trend should continue.

    Long-term sales growth is where the estimates get tricky. The company faces revenue declines from the winding down of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and defense spending cuts due to the rising focus on deficit reduction.

    Nevertheless, I expect a steady improvement in free cash flow generation. All told, I think L-3 Communications can grow its free cash flow at a 2-4% rate for the long-term. Discounting that back, it suggests a fair value of about $95.

    Raytheon (RTN)

    This company also provides various security solutions in the United States and internationally.

    It has $12.39 per share in cash and a current ratio of 1.57; the company is liquid. Analysts expect $5.44 in EPS for the next fiscal year, and the current stock price is less than 10 times that figure, compared to a peer average of 17 times, suggesting Raytheon is s

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    It's tragic that it took a tragedy like last year's shooting at a Newton, Connecticut elementary school to get the ball rolling. Nevertheless, that ball is rolling now, and it's putting companies like L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LLL), View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM), and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI) in the spotlight. How so? Because VSYM, ASEI, and LLL make the tools that are, unfortunately, going to be the only way to absolutely ensure this nation's public schools are secure, and defended from gunmen like Newton's Adam Lanza.

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