Month: August 2011

Recently, Merge Healthcare ( MRGE ) completed the acquisition of Ophthalmic Imaging Systems for approximately $30.3 million (excluding the debt). Ophthalmic Imaging provides digital imaging and informatics solutions for ophthalmology and other medical specialties. Merge believes that the acquisition will be accretive as the company expects to integrate Ophthalmic Imaging Systems’ ophthalmic imaging and informatics solutions, including a highly regarded single platform electronic health record (EHR) and practice management system, digital imaging management solution and a modular imaging to its portfolio. […]

Following the release of encouraging second quarter 2011 results, majority of the analysts covering Bristol-Myers Squibb Company ( BMY ) revised their earnings estimates upwards for 2011. The upward bias is primarily attributable to the encouraging efforts of the company to combat the loss of revenues that will arise once its key drugs, particularly the blockbuster Plavix, loses market exclusivity. […]

Air Products & Chemicals Inc. ( APD ) entered a long-term agreement with Motiva Enterprises LLC for an additional supply of hydrogen to be used by Motiva’s Convent, Louisiana refinery. The hydrogen is used by refiners to make cleaner transportation fuels and other petroleum products from heavier, sour crude feedstocks […]

Pipeline operator MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. ( MWE ) generated profit per unit (excluding marked-to-market derivative loss and compensation expense) of 46 cents in the second quarter of 2011, breezing past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 37 cents. The results improved significantly from 3 cents per unit earned on an adjusted basis in the year-earlier quarter […]

The plastics and chemicals maker Eastman Chemical Co. ( EMN ) announced that it has completed the acquisition of petrochemical company Sterling Chemicals Inc. for $100 million in cash. […]

We reaffirm our Neutral recommendation on diagnostic products maker Gen-Probe ( GPRO ) following its mixed second-quarter fiscal 2011 results. Earnings of 51 cents a share for the quarter beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 49 cents. Profit tumbled 21% year over year as healthy growth in the California-based company’s clinical diagnostic franchise was eclipsed by double-digit declines across blood screening and research products/services businesses. […]

RightNow Technologies Inc. ( RNOW ) reported earnings from continuing operations (excluding one times, but including stock-based compensation) of 4 cents per share for the second quarter of 2011, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss per share of 1 cent. The results benefited from the shift in revenue mix toward higher margin yielding Recurring revenue […]