Monday, January 26, 2015

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now

The Motley Fool's health-care show Market Checkup focuses this week on obesity, one of America's largest health-care concerns. Recently classified as a disease, obesity leads to serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Currently 35% of adults in the U.S. are classified as obese, but more troubling, one out of three children is as well. All told, obesity adds $190 billion in medical costs to the system, but efforts to tackle this growing problem are increasing.

In this video, health-care analysts David Williamson and Max Macaluso discuss the impact government-mandated changes may have on promoting a positive change on American lifestyles and whether investors in the affected companies should be concerned about these new regulations.

Rising health-care costs continue to be a hotly debated topic, and even legendary investor Warren Buffett called this trend "the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness." To learn more about what's happening to the health-care system -- and how to potentially profit from this trend --�click here�for free, immediate access.

Top Gas Utility Stocks To Watch For 2015: Minerva Neurosciences Inc (NERV)

Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a portfolio of product candidates to treat patients suffering from central nervous system (CNS), diseases. The Company�� product candidates are MIN-101, a compound it is developing for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, and MIN-117, a compound it is developing for the treatment of patients suffering from depressive disorder (MDD). In addition, the Company�� portfolio includes MIN-202, a compound it is co-developing for the treatment of patients suffering from primary and secondary insomnia, and MIN-301, a compound it is developing for the treatment of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Its product candidates include MIN-101, MIN-117, MIN-202 and MIN-301.

MIN-101 is a molecule behaving as an antagonist of 5-HT2A and sigma2 receptors, which the Company is developing for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. MIN-117 is a molecule behaving mainly as an antagonist on 5-HT1A receptors and as an inhibitor of both serotonin and dopamine reuptake, which it is developing for the treatment of patients with MDD. MDD is a subtype and a severe form of depression, with 6% of MDD patients committing suicide. In addition, an available therapy has several side effects, including cognitive impairment, sexual dysfunction and sleep disorders that lead many patients to discontinue therapy. MIN-301 is a soluble recombinant form of the Neuregulin-1b1 (NRG-1b1), protein, which it is developing for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease

MIN-202 is a molecule acting as a selective orexin 2 receptor antagonists, which the Company is co-developing for the treatment of patients with insomnia. Insomnia can be the primary condition for patients or a secondary symptom of another medical or psychiatric condition, such as MDD or schizophrenia. It intends to evaluate MIN-202 as a treatment in primary insomnia, as well as secondary insomnia as an adjunctive t! herapy with an antidepressant for the treatment of mood disorders. Unlike many therapies that activate sleep-promoting neurotransmitters, MIN-202 is specifically targeted towards inhibiting the activity of the neurons that promote wakefulness. The Company is co-developing MIN-202 with Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Minerva Neurosciences, Inc.(NASDAQ: NERV) shares rose 58.33% to $9.50 in pre-market trading following positive study results.

    Frontline Ltd. (NYSE: FRO) shares jumped 14.84% to $2.94 in pre-market trading following positive comments from Karen Finerman on CNBC.

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc (AGIO)

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on August 7, 2007, is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is intend to apply its deep understanding of metabolism, coupled with the Company�� ability to create medicines that can inhibit or activate metabolic enzymes, to fundamentally change the way cancer and inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) are treated. The Company has identified and validated novel and druggable targets in both cancer and IEMs. The Company�� two advanced cancer programs are targeting mutations in the enzymes isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2, referred to as IDH1 and IDH2. The Company�� drug candidates are selective for the mutated forms of IDH1 and IDH2 found in cancer cells versus the normal forms of IDH1 and IDH2 found in all other cells.

The Company focused on developing medicines to address IEMs, with a novel approach to these orphan diseases for which no effective or disease-modifying therapy is available. The Company has also de-validated and terminated numerous programs, including many that have been reported in scientific journals. In the Company�� IEM portfolio, it uses an equally rigorous set of validation techniques.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

     

    Another stock that insiders are moving into here is Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO), which focuses on the development and commercialization of therapeutics in the field of cancer metabolism and inborn errors of metabolism in the U.S. Insiders are buying this stock into major strength, since shares are up big so far in 2014 by 79%.

     

     

    Agios Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $1.4 billion and an enterprise value of $1.5 billion. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a price-to-sales of 53.91 and a price-to-book of 11.51. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 48.1%, and for next year it's pegged at 15%. This is a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $162.27 million and its total debt is zero.

     

    A director just bought 2,300 shares, or about $100,000 worth of stock, at $43.98 per share.

     

    From a technical perspective, AGIO is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been selling off after a failed breakout attempt for the last few weeks, with shares moving lower from its high of $50.37 to its intraday low of $42.15 a share. That move is quickly pushing shares of AGIO within range of tagging its 50-day moving average of $40.27 a share.

     

    If you're bullish on AGIO, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its 50-day at $40.27 and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance at $45 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 419,691 shares. If that breakout starts soon, then AGIO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its all-time high of $50.37 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give AGIO a chance to tag $55 to $60 a share.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Equities Trading UP
    Sangamo Biosciences (NASDAQ: SGMO) shot up 16.32 percent to $22.81 announced the publication in the NEJM of the first-in-man study of genome editing using its ZFN technology. Shares of Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AGIO) got a boost, shooting up 27.72 percent to $40.41 after the company reported quarterly results. BJ's (NASDAQ: BJRI) was also up, gaining 21.04 percent to $33.48 after the company was upgraded toa Buy rating at Buckingham research.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    3. We see 23+ partnered pipeline assets and are most positive on Phase I/II MOR202 anti-CD38 for myeloma with data in 2015, and others such as Acceleron Pharma (XLRN), Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO), Epizyme (EPZM), Concert Pharmaceuticals (CNCE) (just started Phase I for next-gen Revlimid).

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Shares of Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AGIO) got a boost, shooting up 29.08 percent to $40.84 after the company reported quarterly results.

    Stage Stores (NYSE: SSI) was also up, gaining 13.47 percent to $22.41 after the company reported Q4 results and announced the sale of its Steele's off-price division to a new retail unit of Hilco Global.

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: Medical Care Technologies Inc (MDCE)

Medical Care Technologies Inc., formerly AM Oil Resources & Technology Inc., incorporated on February 27, 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the development and maintenance of secure medical information systems used by healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. The Company operates in three business segments: Medical Management Software Systems, Medi-Clinics and Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Products.

Medical Management Software Systems

The Company produces a range of medical management software systems, which could be used in a range of healthcare settings to electronically connect the healthcare industry with the consumer. It includes healthcare monitoring devices for glucose monitoring and cardiovascular monitoring and solutions, among others. The primary customers served by the software systems are hospitals and clinics, physicians��office practices, consumers and retail pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers.

The Company have developed the Med-Suite Professional Practice Management information system. The Med-Suite is geared for usage by healthcare providers, such as physicians and nurses in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. The e-management solution addresses the needs of healthcare providers to manage and communicate administrative and clinical data.

The second information systems product developed by the Company is the Tele-Health Suite. Tele-Health functions similarly to a hospital or doctor�� chart and is an interactive record to communicate patient data between healthcare providers and, healthcare providers and patients for treatment support, management and monitoring of the patient�� health.

The CareBox concept is a product designed for persons needing Tele-Health but who do not have access to the necessary computer hardware. The CareBox is a personal Internet communication de! vice that functions as the interface to the subscriber based network. The Company�� network would provide users access to telecommunication, tele-medicine applications and product access. The CareBox is engaged in the development of healthcare service delivery to the individual subscriber.

The CareBox system offers remote, real-time, audio-visual communication between patient and healthcare personnel. It offers a complete medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment from a remote location. The CareBox processes on-site collections of physiological measurements and provides bi-directional audio-video communication.

The CareBox Bluetooth software requirements installed to mobile computing devices. It is compatible with iPhone, BlackBerry and other mobile cellular phone protocols. It enables wireless upload of personal medical information from medical and wellness monitoring devices.

Using the online facility, healthcare providers (doctors, nurses) could admit and assess patients, and subsequently create and revise individual healthcare plans. Attachments could be made to the CareBox, for monitoring blood-oxygen levels, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, as well as blood glucose levels. If readings are outside normal limits, the system would initiate a pre-programmed response and instruction for client intervention would be given. The system provides continuous monitoring at home for the clients, which serves to lengthen the period of time a person could live independently, while reducing the number of re-admissions to care facilities.

Retail Pharmacies and Retail Medical Clinics

The Company focuses to open professional, and convenience retail pharmacies and also retail medical clinics. Within the pharmacies, it focuses to have over the counter (OTC) drugs, nutritional supplements, herbal products, personal care products, family care products, as well as products, including consumable, seasonal and promotional items. The customers woul! d also ha! ve access to the medical software and hardware systems. It plans to open retail medical clinics, with a specific view to treating patients with telemedicine as well as a traditional treatment format.

Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Products

The Company plans to develop or source and sell pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, and a range of other merchandise, including over-the-counter medicines, herbal products, personal care products, family care products in the planned Medi-Clinics, through the Website, retail pharmacies and through established sales and distribution channels in the People�� Republic of China. It would also offer private label products. Med-Suite, in concert with a person�� secure personal health record, would allow the medical professional to communicate pharmaceutical, administrative, clinical data in a cost-effective manner. The Company plans to use Med-Suite to provide marketing tools for pharmaceutical sales automation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    What�� the Catch With Timios National Corp? According to various disclosures, at least one promoter expects to be compensated up to $140k to talk about Timios National Corp. However, Timios National Corp itself has been fairly quiet with news for the past several months except for financial filings. Probably the most recent relevant filing dates from September and is about an Asset Purchase Agreement with Adobe Title, LLC, whereby HOMS acquired all of the assets and properties of, and assumed certain liabilities, from the latter in consideration of $500,000 plus an earn-out equal to 7.25% of the Gross Revenue up to a maximum of $3,500,000 starting approximately six months from the date of the Agreement and ending on the forty-eighth monthly anniversary of such start date. A quick look at Timios National Corp�� financials reveals revenues of $6,810k (most recent reported quarter), $8,519k, $7,355k and $6,866k for the past four reported quarters along with a net loss of $120k (most recent reported quarter), net income of $329k and $66, and a net loss of $2,073k. At the end of September, Timios National Corp had $776k in cash to cover $3,661k in current liabilities and $6,700k in total liabilities. So its hard to explain the sudden share price decline last Friday.

    Medical Care Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: MDCE) Says Its Well Positioned to Profit From Health Care in Hong Kong

    Small cap Medical Care Technologies Inc, through joint ventures or Chinese subsidiaries, develops a network of family and children's health facilities in the larger urban areas throughout China. Services are geared towards the advancing economic middle-class Chinese families. On Friday, Medical Care Technologies Inc sank 25% to $0.0012 for a market cap of $2,060 plus MDCE is up 1,100% over the past year and up 20% over the past five years according to Google Finance.

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SPPI)

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, primarily focuses on oncology and hematology. The company engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products. It markets Zevalin, a prescribed form of cancer therapy, radioimmunotherapy; and Fusilev, a novel folate analog formulation and the pharmacologically active isomer of the racemic compound, calcium leucovorin. The company?s drugs in late stage development include Apaziquone, an anti-cancer agent; and Belinostat, a histone deacytelase inhibitor. Its drugs in development also include Ozarelix a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonist, which is in Phase II clinical stage; SPI-1620, a peptide agonist of endothelin B receptors, which is in Phase I clinical stage; and RenaZorb, a lanthanum-based nanoparticle phosphate binding agent, which is in preclinical stage. The company was formerly known as NeoTherapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2002. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Henderson, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI) shares tumbled 9.77 percent to $8.18 after the company announced an offering of $100 million of convertible notes.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    Eight months ago, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPPI) was a train wreck. Shares had plunged from $12.43 to $7.79 on the heels of bad news, and SPPI wouldn't stop bleeding until it hit a low of $6.92 a few days after the big selloff. That bad news? A warning that its full-year sales (and particularly sales of its cancer drug Fusilev) would be well short of expectations.

  • [By Roberto Pedone]

    Another under-$10 biotechnology player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (SPPI) which develops and commercializes oncology and hematology drug products. This stock has traded off a bit so far in 2014, with shares off by 7.3%.

    If you take a glance at the chart for Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, you'll see that this stock has been uptrending over the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $6.75 to its recent high of $8.50 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SPPI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This move has now pushed shares of SPPI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade above some key overhead resistance levels.

    Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SPPI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.25 to $8.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 1.07 million shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then SPPI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9.27 to its 52-week high at $10.32 a share. Any high-volume move above $10.32 will then give SPPI a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from March of 2013 that started at $12.47 a share.

    Traders can look to buy SPPI off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its recent double bottom support levels at $7.82 to $7.81 a share or right below its 50-day moving average of $7.69 a share. One can also buy SPPI off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

    Read More: 5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

  • [By Keith Speights]

    Another prime case study for this comes from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI  ) . Spectrum's stock more than doubled from October 2011 through July 2012. However, shares plunged 55% from those highs because business dynamics changed since then. A shortage of a generic rival to Spectrum's lead drug Fusilev was alleviated, resulting in sales slowing down considerably.�

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: FibroGen Inc (FGEN)

FibroGen, Inc. (FibroGen) is a research-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat unmet medical needs. The Company focuses in the areas of fibrosis and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) biology. FibroGen�� products include Roxadustat (FG-4592), which is an oral small molecule inhibitor of HIF prolyl hydroxylases (HIF-PHs), in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and FG-3019, which is a monoclonal antibody in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pancreatic cancer and liver fibrosis. The Company�� subsidiaries include FibroGen Europe Oy (FibroGen Europe) and FibroGen China Anemia Holdings, Ltd. (FibroGen China).

Roxadustat is the HIF-PH inhibitor in Phase III clinical development, which acts by stimulating the body�� natural pathway of erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production. Roxadustat represents a new paradigm for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients and offers injectable erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). 1,449 subjects have participated in 26 completed Phase I and II clinical studies for roxadustat in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company, along with its collaboration partners, Astellas Pharma Inc., (Astellas) and AstraZeneca AB,(AstraZeneca), has designed a global Phase III program to support regulatory approval of roxadustat in both NDD-CKD and DD-CKD patients in multiple geographies.

FG-3019 is the Company�� fully-human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a critical common element in the progression of fibrosis and associated diseases. In Phase II IPF clinical studies, FG-3019 demonstrated the stabilization of disease and, in human studies, reversal of lung fibrosis in some patients. In an open-label Phase II pancreatic cancer study of FG-3019 plus gemcitabine and erlotinib, FG-3019 demonstrated a dose-depen! dent improvement in one year survival rate. In 10 Phase I and Phase II clinical studies of FG-3019 to date involving over 340 subjects, FG-3019 has been tolerated across a range of doses studied, and there have been no dose-limiting toxicities observed as of November 13, 2014.

The Company competes with Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Celgene Corporation, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Sanofi, Novartis and Biogen Idec.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Recent IPO�FibroGen Inc (NASDAQ: FGEN) surged 22.96% today, reportedly after the journal Hepatology published the results of a workshop between the FDA and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) which laid out criteria for a phase three study of a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of potential small cap or mid cap liver disease stock peers like Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: CNAT), Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ICPT) and Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp (NASDAQ: RPTP) which rose 24.35%, 10.98% and 2.02%, respectively. According to Investors Business Daily, NASH (the more serious version of fatty liver disease) is potentially an enormous market with about 6 million�US patients but the�lack of previous treatments had left it unclear how the FDA would measure success against the disease while FibroGen Inc doesn't yet have a NASH human trial in the works, it has said it hopes to start one for its lead candidate FG-3019 (its in mid-stage trials for pulmonary fibrosis and liver fibrosis due to hepatitis B infection).

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: Decision Diagnostics Corp (DECN)

Decision Diagnostics Corp., formerly instaCare Corp., incorporated on March 2, 2001, is a prescription and non-prescription diagnostics and home testing products distributor. The Company distributes brand name prescription and non-prescription diagnostics products, as well as several lines of ostomy, wound cares and post-surgery medical products. The Company through its subsidiaries, PDA Services, Inc. and Decision IT Corp. offers information technology solutions in several medical cares market channels by providing physicians with information at the point of care. The Company's retail prescription business maintains three operating units, which include Licensed wholesale prescription drug distribution business; Licensed distribution of diabetes diagnostics and supplies; and Internet pharmacy/prescription fulfillment.

The Company's software is designed to integrate point of service applications. The Company is also a developer of products that offer solutions in medical care and management by providing physicians with essential information instantaneously as they meet with their patients. In addition, the Company markets its MD@Hand and MD @Work software application, which also leverages the connectivity of smart cell phones devices through the Internet. The Company's applications run on smart phones manufactured by Apple, Palm, Motorola and Samsung.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    Over the past few weeks, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LXRX) and Decision Diagnostics Corp. (OTCBB:DECN) have dominated the diabetes diagnostics and diabetes treatment landscape. Shares of LXRX jumped 20% on Tuesday following news that one of the key drugs in its pipeline showed more than enough efficacy in its clinical trials. DECN shares are up more than 250% on the heels of an almost-assured victory in its patent lawsuit against industry giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). Anyone looking for a new trade in the diabetes diagnostics space, however, may want to look past overbought Lexicon Pharmaceuticals and Decision Diagnostics at this point, and instead turn their attention to newly-budding Neurometrix Inc. (NASDAQ:NURO).

Top Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: Analogic Corp (ALOG)

Analogic Corporation (Analogic), incorporated in November 27, 1967, is a technology company that designs and manufactures advanced medical imaging and security systems and subsystems sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and end users primarily in the healthcare and airport security markets. Analogic operate primarily three segments: Medical Imaging, Ultrasound, and Security Technology. Medical Imaging, which primarily includes systems and subsystems for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) medical imaging equipment, Selenium-based detectors for screening and diagnostic applications in mammography. Ultrasound, which designs, manufactures, and distributes ultrasound systems and transducers primarily in the urology, surgery, robotic assisted surgery, anesthesia, and general imaging markets. Security Technology, which includes advanced threat detecting CT systems. In March 2013, it completed the acquisition of Ultrasonix Medical Corporation. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired the remaining ownership stake in PocketSonics, Inc.

Medical Imaging

During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company�� medical imaging segment, which accounted for approximately 59% of its net revenue, which consists primarily of electronic systems and subsystems for medical imaging, sold globally to OEM producers of CT, MRI, and digital mammography systems. Products under this consist of: X-Ray Detectors, which converts the x-ray energy in a CT machine to useful analog signals for processing in the DAS.

DAS, which are used to process the signals created by the detectors and feed them as a digital stream to a reconstruction computer to create high resolution images. The DAS is designed with many multi-channel circuit boards that process the analog signals from the detectors and convert them into digital signals through an array of analog to digital.

converters. DMS, which the brains of the CT sys! tem and consists of both the detector array and the DAS in one package. This system provides its OEM customers a level of integration that allows for lower cost and faster time to market. Integrated Gantries, which is a component of the CT system (detectors, DAS, x-ray tube and power supplies), are mounted on a rotating ring assembly called a gantry. It provides integrated gantries to its OEM customers as another level of integration.

For OEM producers of MRI equipment, it also supplies two key components: gradient amplifiers and radio frequency, or RF, amplifiers. It has developed a range of amplifier solutions for its customers ranging from low-magnetic-field systems (< 0.3 Tesla) to ultra high-field systems (> 7.0 Tesla) used in academic research hospitals.

Gradient Amplifier, which is a power systems used to drive a set of coils located inside the MRI system and around the patient. The coils energize the atomic structure of patients��anatomy in order to develop tissue and structure images. Gradient amplifiers must be specifically designed for different MRI field strengths ranging from 0.3 Tesla to >7.0 Tesla. RF Amplifiers, which is a power systems used to control another set of the coils within the MRI system that are used to read-back the signals from the anatomy generated by the gradient coils. These signals are then processed in a reconstruction computer to create images. The RF amplifiers must have a high signal-to-noise ratio to produce the cleanest images.

The Company�� digital mammography products consist primarily of digital mammography selenium-based x-ray detector plates, sold directly to OEM customers for screening and diagnostic applications in mammography. These x-ray detector plates are used by OEMs in mammography systems to convert x-ray signals into high resolution two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) images of breast tissue to aid in the detection of breast cancer. Its detector plates for mammography applications are sold to! medical ! OEMs for use in products worldwide. Its mammography product portfolio consists of: LMAM, which is its large area detector plate, based on selenium technology, is used primarily for European markets and was recently introduced in the United States market. This detector plate is also compatible with systems that can perform tomosynthesis, which creates 3-D images through a series of exposures to more accurately detect lesions in the breast. SMAM, which is its small area detector plate uses the same selenium-based technology as the LMAM detector and is manufactured primarily for the Asian markets. Within its medical imaging segment, it also designs and manufactures precision motion control systems, which it supplies to OEM customers for use in computer-controlled automation systems primarily in the semiconductor and medical markets.

Ultrasound

The Company�� ultrasound segment designs and manufactures procedure-driven ultrasound systems and transducers, principally under the B-K Medical brand. These products are primarily for end-user markets in urology and surgery and accounted for approximately 29% of its net revenue in fiscal year 2012. Its ultrasound systems use acoustic waves to generate real-time images of the body�� internal anatomy that are used for interventional and medical diagnostic procedures. These ultrasound systems are also used for guiding robotic assisted surgical procedures and for guiding prostate cancer treatment employing a procedure called brachytherapy. It also manufactures and sells advanced ultrasound probes and transducers to medical OEMs.

Security Technology

Utilizing the Company�� CT technology, its Security Technology segment designs and manufactures airport security systems and subsystems primarily for checked bag applications and accounted for approximately 12% of its net revenue in fiscal year 2012. These systems generate 3-D images of objects contained within baggage and provide threat analysis of materials conta! ined with! in the bags. The Company sells the checked baggage systems through L-3 Communications Corporation (L-3): eXaminer XLB (High Speed), eXaminer 3DX (Medium Speed) and eXaminer SX (Reduced Size).

The Company competes with General Electric Corporation (GE) and Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Philips), Hitachi Medical Corporation, Fujifilm, Morpho Detection and Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC).

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Wallace Witkowski]

    Shares of Analogic Corp. (ALOG) �fell 12% to $85 on light volume after the electronics-component maker reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $1.17 a share on revenue of $141.4 million and forecast flat revenue for the year because of headwinds. Analysts expected $1.20 a share on revenue of $151.7 million, along with a 7% revenue growth for the year.

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