STJ ST. Jude Medical, Inc.

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – February 21, 2012 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Medtronic (MDT), Boston Scientific (BSX), St Jude Medical (STJ), Edwards Lifesciences (EW) and The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS).

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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Earnings Preview: Medtronic

Leading medical devices company Medtronic (MDT) is scheduled to report its third quarter of fiscal 2012 results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. The company is expected to earn an EPS of 84 cents on revenues of $4.029 billion during the quarter, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Medtronic exceeded its expectations in two of the last four quarters. The four-quarter positive surprise of 0.94% implies that the company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by this magnitude over the last four quarters.

Previous Quarter Highlights

Medtronic reported an adjusted EPS of 84 cents in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, a couple of cents ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago quarter. Revenues were $4.132 billion in the quarter, up 6% year over year (up 3% at constant exchange rates or CER) and higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.066 billion.

Medtronic’s seven divisions – CRDM, Spinal, CardioVascular, Neuromodulation, Diabetes, Surgical Technologies and Physio-Control – generated corresponding sales of $1.268 billion (up 2% year over year but down 2% at CER), $839 million (down 1% or down 3% at CER), $830 million (up 12% or 8% at CER), $421 million (up 9% or 6% at CER), $367 million (up 13% or 10% at CER), $298 million (up 22% or 20% at CER) and $109 million (flat or down 3% at CER). The company has decided to sell its Physio-Control business to Bain Capital for $487 million in cash.

Agreement of Estimate Revisions

Estimate revision trends among the analysts for the third quarter and the fiscal have been on the downside. Over the last 30 days, out of 21 analysts covering the stock, 3 lowered their estimates for the quarter while only 1 moved in the opposite direction. A similar situation applies for the fiscal with 2 downward revisions over the past month and none raising their estimates.

The decline in estimates reflects the issues troubling the company’s core businesses and the current economic uncertainties. The biggest segment at Medtronic, CRDMhas been affected by physician reaction to a study result published by the Journal of the American Medical Association regarding evidence-based guidelines for ICD implants and US Department of Justice’s investigation into hospitals' ICD implants.

This situation is taking its toll across the industry as reflected in the recently reported results of Medtronic’s peers, Boston Scientific (BSX) and St Jude Medical (STJ). Moreover, the Spinal segment is also witnessing several headwinds such as pricing pressure and decline in procedure volume.

We also expect an update regarding the US trial of Medtronic’s CoreValve system. This is significant since Edwards Lifesciences (EW) has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its Sapien transcatheter heart valve (“THV”). Over and above, Medtronic’s prominent presence in the European market, which is shrouded in macroeconomic challenges, might affect the company’s sales growth.   

Although recent product launches in the CRDM business will provide some incremental sales, Medtronic’s top line would continue to remain under pressure. This might force the company to revise its guidance for fiscal 2012. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fiscal stands at an EPS of $3.45 on revenues of $16.534 billion. However, the continuous share buyback program and restructuring initiatives undertaken by the company might be a cushion to the bottom line.

Magnitude of Estimate Revisions

Given nominal estimate revisions from the analyst community, though tinged with doubt, over the past 30-day period, the consensus estimate for the current quarter dropped by a penny to 84 cents. However, the consensus estimate for fiscal 2012 remained static at $3.45 over the past month.

Recommendation

Having witnessed several headwinds in its two biggest segments – CRDM and Spinal – Medtronic is trying every means to revive growth. This includes penetration of international markets, portfolio expansion and restructuring initiatives, which should benefit the company over the long term. Moreover, acquisitions done over the past few years are contributing to total revenues, a positive trend that is expected to continue. Meanwhile, Medtronic has increased its focus on the emerging markets that have been garnering significant growth.

Despite the measures, economic uncertainty is impacting procedure volume. Longer term, we have a Neutral recommendation on Medtronic. The stock retains a Zacks #3 Rank (“Hold”) in the short term.

Goldman Sachs Upgraded to Neutral

We have upgraded our recommendation on The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) to Neutral from Underperform.

The upgraded recommendation is based on the company’s recent expansions to generate revenue growth, coupled with targeted cost reduction initiatives.

Goldman is on a buying spree. The company has agreed to purchase a 4.8% stake in Mongolia’s Trade and Development Bank. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Goldman’s stake purchase in the Mongolian bank indicates its plan to gain exposure in the Mongolian economy, whose growth is stimulated by the developing resources of the country.

Furthermore, the company announced its plan to purchase Vermont-based Dwight Asset Management Company. The deal, whose terms are still undisclosed, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012. The completion of the acquisition would help Goldman to gain significant market share in the defined contribution investment-only business. Moreover, the bank would be able to prosper in defined contribution business and provide more investment plans to facilitate retired people in capitalizing on their retirement savings.

In the current difficult economic and financial conditions, Goldman has taken an internal initiative to identify areas where it can operate more efficiently. The company has targeted about $1.4 billion in run rate compensation and non-compensation reductions and expects to complete them as soon as possible.

Moreover, Goldman is constantly balancing the near-term uncertainties with long-term strategic goals. It plans to hold more capital to protect itself from the current macro uncertainties and be able to stick to the commitment of providing strong relative return to shareholders. The company proposes to invest in attractive regions and businesses to enhance growth and reduce the number of businesses experiencing lower client demand.

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