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Abbott Laboratories-
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/10/30/2-no-brainer-stocks-to-buy-in-the-next-market-cras/
Abbott Laboratories has been resilient throughout the pandemic, which is somewhat surprising. The company specializes in developing medical devices, a business that was hit hard by the crisis, in part due to hospitals postponing elective and non-essential procedures. However, Abbott was able to navigate the downturn thanks to its COVID-19 diagnostic test kits.
While the coronavirus diagnostics market is less than a year old, it is already worth billions in revenue. According to Grand View Research, the segment will be worth $19.8 billion this year, and it will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% through 2027. The fact that we are witnessing a rise in new COVID-19 cases isn't good, but companies like Abbott Laboratories will benefit.
Thanks to its work in the COVID-19 diagnostic market, the company should be able to offset some of the losses it will incur in its other segments. During its third quarter ending Sept. 30, Abbott recorded sales of $8.9 billion, 9.6% higher than the prior-year quarter. The company's diagnostics segment reported $2.6 billion in sales -- a 38.2% year-over-year increase -- largely thanks to its COVID-19-related products. Abbott Laboratories offers other growth prospects as well, especially within the diabetes segment.
The company's FreeStyle Libre is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that has had rapidly growing sales. During the third quarter, the company's diabetes care segment generated $843 million in sales, 26.9% higher than the year-ago period. This was driven by the FreeStyle Libre, which had sales for the quarter increase by 37.9% year over year. Abbott Laboratories is well-positioned to keep profiting from the growing CGM market, and thanks to its COVID-19 (and other) efforts, the healthcare stock will probably keep outperforming the market.
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>>> Is MSCI a Buy?
The company leverages its knowledge and expertise to provide exceptional products to the financial industry while growing its subscription-based revenues year after year.
Motley Fool
by Courtney Carlsen
Sep 11, 2020
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/09/11/is-msci-a-buy/
MSCI (NYSE:MSCI) provides investment products and financial data to some of the largest asset managers in the world. You might be more familiar with it for its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) than for its own business. But its business is a strong one, and it's been a big winner for investors, up almost 500% over the past five years.
The company has built up years of experience in the industry and an extensive collection of historical data, proprietary equity index data, risk algorithms, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data, along with strong intellectual property protection on its indexes. As a result, it has been able to effectively leverage this data and expertise to continually improve the index and ETF products it provides for its clients.
MSCI capitalizes on this domain knowledge through a subscription-based revenue model. In fact, subscription-based revenues make up 74% of its $1.6 billion in total revenue since June 30, 2019. Not only that, but the company is able to keep clients satisfied, as seen by its 90%-plus retention rate over the past five years. All of these factors make MSCI a great company to consider adding to your portfolio.
ETF investing is a strength of MSCI's.
A staple in the financial community
MSCI's global reach attracts many big-name clients, most notably BlackRock. The company provides support tools and services for the global investment community including indexes, portfolio construction, and risk management analytics. MSCI's goal is to help clients understand key drivers of risk and return, which in turn help them build better portfolios.
MSCI's stock market indexes make up about 60% of the company's total business. An index can focus on a general basket of stocks, such as the S&P 500, or on investments that fit a very specific criteria such as ESG stocks. MSCI uses its expertise to continuously innovate its ETF and index products. For example, it offers indexes that target systemic style factors, including volatility, size, momentum, and value. It also offers newer indexes for clients that will track ESG companies as well as ETFs based on on-trend factors, such as smart cities, the digital economy, and other disruptive technologies.
In total, MSCI calculates 226,000 indexes daily and 12,000 indexes in real time, and serves 7,800 clients across 90 countries.
Subscription-based revenues are a key growth driver
MSCI's principal business model is to license annual, recurring subscriptions for the majority of its index, analytics, and ESG products and services for a fee due in advance of the service period. For its index segment specifically, the company sells index data subscriptions that give clients access to MSCI index-linked investment products on a contractual basis, rather than on a usage basis.
In its most recent quarterly earnings report, MSCI reported total 12-month revenue of $1.6 billion, 74% of which came from recurring subscription services. Since the end of 2015, it has seen revenues growth at a compounded annual growth rate of 10%. During that same time period, adjusted earnings per share grew even faster, at a compounded annual rate of 28%.
Recurring subscription revenues continue growing, as well. In the second quarter of this year, the company reported recurring subscription revenue of $309.9 million, a 7.2% increase over the same period last year. This increase was driven thanks to 10% growth in recurring revenue from index products and a 22.7% increase in ESG products. Subscription revenue has continued to grow despite the challenges the economy has faced with COVID-19.
A look at the competition
MSCI has a number of competitors, depending on which operating segment you're looking at. In its index segment, the company competes with S&P Dow Jones Indices -- which is jointly owned by S&P Global and the CME Group -- as well as with FTSE Russell, a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group. In analytics, the company finds competition from Qontigo, BlackRock Solutions, Bloomberg Finance L.P., and FactSet Research Systems.
What sets MSCI apart from its competitors is its extensive database on global markets, proprietary equity indexes, risk algorithms, and ESG. The company relies strongly on intellectual property rights to keep many aspects of its products and services proprietary. Also, its strong relationships with its clients gives it an advantage over competitors, especially since happy clients stay with MSCI for years.
A happy client base
MSCI's retention rate, a metric that tracks the company's ability to retain its customers over time, is consistently 90% and higher over the past five years.
MSCI also continues to grow its subscription run rate. This metric provides an estimate at a particular point in time of the annualized value of the company's recurring revenues under its client contracts for the next 12 months, assuming all contracts are renewed. The subscription run rate is a key operating metric for MSCI because a change in its run rate would ultimately impact its operating revenue over time. New subscription sales have an effect of increasing the company's run rate and operating revenues over time. In the past five years, the subscription run rate has consistently grown between 7% and 10%, and its subscription run rate has actually grown over 10% in each of the past three quarters.
MSCI does a good job of maintaining clientele, a sign that its customers are clearly satisfied with its services and products. Maintaining a high retention rate is essential for its subscription-based revenue model to work.
Is MSCI a buy at today's valuation?
Investors may be concerned that MSCI is too expensive for its current share price. The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 56, which is much above its recent norm between 30 and 40. But its consistent sales and earnings growth and customer loyalty make a strong argument that it deserves its premium.
MSCI is a great company that continues to thrive -- even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic -- thanks to its subscription-based business model, which makes it a steady and stable investment choice despite its high valuation.
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>>> Why Rollins Stock Is Up 27.8% Over the First Half of 2020
The pest control leader found a new opportunity amid the global pandemic.
Motley Fool
by Rich Duprey
Jul 7, 2020
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/07/07/why-rollins-stock-is-up-278-over-the-first-half-of.aspx
Even during a pandemic you need to control pests, insects, and creepy-crawlies. Considering that Rollins (NYSE:ROL) stock is up 27.8% over the first six months of 2020, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, it's clear that pest control was not one of the services that people were willing to give up during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Everything under one roof
One of the things that stands out with Rollins is that it's a serial acquirer, constantly buying more smaller businesses as it tries to roll up the pest control industry under its rather large and growing umbrella.
Best known for its Orkin and Western Pest Services brand, Rollins employs a "buy everything" approach to its business, which caused it to suffer its first miscues last year. The company started off 2020 reporting fourth-quarter results that missed analyst earnings expectations, despite beating on revenue.
The growth-by-acquisition strategy caused its expenses to rise as it needed to add more to its loss reserves, and that alone ended up swiping a penny per share from earnings.
Yet CEO Gary Rollins said he believed it was an anomaly, because after 12 consecutive years or reporting higher revenue and earnings, and 22 years of improving business prospects, "I've never seen so many one-time charges in my experience."
Rollins has proved itself capable of incorporating its acquisitions into the fold, but that's the thing with buying numerous companies -- it's never a problem until it's a problem.
A silver lining to a very dark cloud
Rollins was also hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, causing its stock to lose about a quarter of its value as the closure of businesses and office space impacted the pest control leader. Commercial services make up 38% of its revenue, and while the cliche that opportunity is the flip side of crisis is overused, it actually applies to Rollins.
At the end of March, it launched Orkin VitalClean, a powerful disinfectant service for businesses to sanitize and disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces. While Rollins has used this disinfectant before to sanitize commercial facilities after pest removals, it began offering it more broadly to businesses due to the pandemic.
Rollins noted that no product has received Environmental Protection Agency approval for killing the COVID-19 virus because it's too new, but the disinfectant is effective against a long list of pathogens, such as other coronaviruses, including those that caused two other global outbreaks, swine flu and avian flu. It is also 100% effective against bacteria and viruses on hard, nonporous surfaces.
While Rollins thinks VitalClean can become an important part of its business, right now the launch has increased costs, with purchases of personal protective equipment and other disinfectant equipment. However, the service has already signed up its first major customer, the British Columbia transit system.
Basics still matter
Termite removal and mosquito control remain two of Rollins important businesses, and the first half of the year were prime seasons for the pests. First-quarter residential termite revenue, which accounts for 20% of the total, jumped almost 18% from the year-ago period as it experienced the fastest growth it has seen in six years, while its mosquito service also posted record-setting growth.
And Rollins hasn't let up on its spending spree, either, continuing to buy more companies, including the largest independent pest control provider in Australia. Rollins has a presence in 65 countries around the world.
Time to take a breather
Rollins stock has bounded 40% higher from the lows it hit in March, but it trades at 70 times trailing earnings and 55 times next year's estimates. It also goes for nearly 100 times the free cash flow it produces.
While Rollins also pays a dividend that has increased at double-digit rates for 18 consecutive years, it slashed the quarterly payout by 33% to $0.08 during the pandemic to strengthen its balance sheet and give it flexibility.
It says the move is temporary, and by the end of the year it may just be able to increase it above and beyond the level it set in January. But as solid as Rollins' business appears as consumers seemingly don't see pest control as very discretionary, its stock still looks overvalued at this price.
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Innovative Industrial Properties - 12 Splendid Small-Cap Growth Stocks to Buy
Kiplingers
by Will Ashworth
July 15, 2020
https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/small-cap-stocks/601067/10-splendid-small-cap-growth-stocks-to-buy
Innovative Industrial Properties
Market value: $2.0 billion
YTD total return: 23.6%
3-year annualized revenue growth: 418.2% (3-year annualized)
It seems like only yesterday that Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR, $91.50) bought its first property. However, in reality, the real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in owning medical-use cannabis facilities snapped up its first site in December 2016.
The company raised $61.1 million in its initial public offering on Dec. 5, 2016. Two weeks later, the REIT acquired a 127,000-square-foot industrial property in New York state. It purchased the property from PharmaCann LLC, a grower and dispenser of medical cannabis in eight U.S. states. IIPR paid $30 million in a sale-leaseback transaction, which has become the company's calling card ever since.
Today, Innovative Industrial Properties owns 56 properties in 15 states representing 4.1 million rentable square feet of industrial space. The properties are 99.2% leased with a weighted average lease length of 15.9 years.
To date, Innovative Industrial has $883 million in total committed or invested capital generating $84.5 million in annualized revenue. That might not seem like a lot. However, the annualized figure is based on the Q1 2020 revenue of $21.1 million, a figure that's 210% higher than the REIT's revenue in Q1 2019.
It's a big deal.
You won't find many REITs among small-cap growth stocks. But as the cannabis industry continues to mature, Innovative Industrial's seat at the cannabis table is all but assured.
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>>> John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Board Declares Special Cash Dividend of $1.85 per share of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock and Regular Annual Cash Dividend of $0.65 per share of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock
Business Wire
July 9, 2020
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/john-b-sanfilippo-son-inc-200500312.html
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Board Declares Special Cash Dividend of $1.85 per share of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock and Regular Annual Cash Dividend of $0.65 per share of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBSS) (the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") declared a special cash dividend (the "Special Dividend") of $1.85 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company and $1.85 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. In addition to the Special Dividend, the Board declared a regular annual cash dividend (the "Annual Dividend") of $0.65 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company and $0.65 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. The aggregate payment for both the Special Dividend and Annual Dividend will be approximately $29.0 million.
The Special Dividend and the Annual Dividend will be paid on August 21, 2020 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 7, 2020.
"We are pleased to announce the $1.85 per share Special Dividend and the $0.65 per share Annual Dividend," stated Jeffrey T. Sanfilippo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our financial performance in the first three quarters of fiscal 2020 has provided us the opportunity to declare the Special Dividend and increase our Annual Dividend by $0.05 per share over last year’s Annual Dividend. These dividends, like our previous dividends, further reinforce our goal of creating long-term stockholder value through the responsible use of cash. Furthermore, these dividends would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of all our employees," Mr. Sanfilippo concluded.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. is a processor, packager, marketer and distributor of nut and dried fruit-based products that are sold under a variety of private brands and under the Company’s Fisher®, Orchard Valley Harvest®, Squirrel Brand®, Southern Style Nuts® and Sunshine Country® brand names.
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NextEra Energy - >>> 3 Well-Known Stocks That Just Keep Winning
Based on year-to-date performance, these popular stocks are on track for their 12th consecutive year of gains.
Motley Fool
Sean Williams
Jul 9, 2020
https://finance.yahoo.com/m/680deaaa-297d-3ede-8a74-6eeccf305821/3-well-known-stocks-that-just.html?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article&yptr=yahoo
For Wall Street and investors, this has been one heck of a trying year. No matter your level of investing experience, nothing could have prepared folks for the roller-coaster ride the stock market has been on since mid-February due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
While most stocks have given investors a bit of whiplash -- which is to be expected when the S&P 500 loses a third of its value in five weeks and then delivers its strongest quarterly gain in 22 years in the subsequent quarter -- three well-known stocks have done what they always seem to do: gone up.
The following three companies were already riding an incredible 11-year winning streak into 2020 (based on total return, inclusive of dividends paid), and they've continued their winning ways through the first six-plus months of the year.
Costco Wholesale
Perhaps the most well-known stock that just can't be stopped is warehouse club operator Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST). Though its share price has been whipsawed a bit in 2020, Costco is currently higher by 6% for the year and a cool 128% over the past five years. With the exception of 2016 (and 2020 thus far), Costco has generated a double-digit total return for its shareholders every year since 2008.
Though there are a number of reasons Costco just keeps winning, its memberships play the biggest role. These annual memberships, which start at $60, provide high-margin revenue that allows Costco to undercut other retailers on price. Plus, paying for a membership makes it far likelier that a customer will purchase products within Costco's ecosystem rather than shop anywhere else.
Costco also benefits from its bulk-buying tactics. It's no secret that buying product in bulk nets Costco a cheaper base price. The company is then able to pass along these savings to its paying members, as well as to use these low prices as a lure to bring in new members.
As one final note, there's no question that COVID-19 has helped Costco. Bulk buying on the consumer end has been a blessing for the entire grocery and warehouse industry. It would be a real surprise if Costco didn't lock in its 12th consecutive year of gains when the curtain closes on 2020.
NextEra Energy
Cue Queen's hit song "Don't Stop Me Now," because electric utility NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) has proved to be virtually unstoppable over the past 11-plus years. Following a shaky March that saw NextEra, at one point, lose 25% of its value, the company's stock is now up 2% on a year-to-date basis through July 6.
The single most important catalyst for NextEra Energy continues to be its focus on green-energy projects. No company in the U.S. is generating more capacity from solar and wind power than NextEra, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. NextEra is continuing to invest tens of billions into its infrastructure and has plans to install 30 million solar panels by 2030 (the "30-by-30" project) to generate another 10,000 megawatts of capacity. Though these investments remain pricey, they ultimately result in significantly lower electricity production costs on a per-kilowatt-hour basis. In other words, this is what allows NextEra's earnings growth to trounce those of its electric utility peers.
Furthermore, NextEra Energy should benefit from historically low lending rates. With the company often financing green projects with debt, it's the perfect time for NextEra to borrow money and further transform its production portfolio.
Also, don't overlook the fact that NextEra Energy's traditional utility operations are regulated. While this keeps NextEra from imposing price hikes at will, it also means no exposure to potentially volatile wholesale electricity pricing. It's this consistency and green energy push that have NextEra on track for its 12th straight winning year.
UnitedHealth Group
Another practically unstoppable stock for 12 years and counting now is health insurance and health systems optimization company UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). You might not think of health insurers as top-performing stocks, but UnitedHealth's total return has topped 36% in 5 of the last 11 years. With its stock down as much as 34% in March, UnitedHealth's 3% year-to-date return is more impressive than it sounds.
Ironically, one of the things that makes UnitedHealth Group tick is the lack of healthcare reform at the congressional level. Though there have been numerous instances in which lawmakers have homed in on the idea of bringing down drug prices or reforming the insurance industry, most of the time, no change is enacted. This allows UnitedHealth excellent long-term visibility and is a key reason it's able to continue increasing health insurance premiums.
In terms of growth drivers, UnitedHealth has leaned on Optum to a greater degree in recent years. Optum's purpose is to improve the operating efficiency of healthcare systems. During the COVID-19-impacted first quarter, Optum's revenue skyrocketed 25% to $32.8 billion, which essentially accounts for half of UnitedHealth's consolidated sales. Though OptumRx's prescription drug fulfillment comprises a significant portion of Optum's total sales ($21.6 billion out of $32.8 billion), the faster-growing analytics and health operations segments are what should drive operating margins higher over the long term.
With UnitedHealth Group expected to benefit from an increase in personal health insurance demand due to COVID-19, look for the company to make a serious run at extending its streak to 12 straight years of gains.
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>>> Ecolab's Unit Unveils Test Kit for Cooling Water Management
Zacks
June 29, 2020
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ecolabs-unit-unveils-test-kit-122012573.html
Ecolab Inc.’s ECL subsidiary, Nalco Water, recently launched Rapid Bio Intelligence, a total aerobic bacteria test kit that drastically simplifies water chemistry testing and compliance for cooling water systems. Through this, the company aims to maintain efficient cooling of water systems, which is crucial in protecting assets, adhering to safety and environmental regulations, and controlling operating costs.
This is expected to boost the company’s Water unit of its Global Industrial segment.
More About Rapid Bio Intelligence
Nalco Water’s Rapid Bio Intelligence is a mobile app-driven test kit designed to monitor cooling water quality with swift and reliable results. Operators can quickly deploy or alter bacterial control strategies to ensure that cooling water systems continue operating safely and proficiently.
Rapid Bio Intelligence delivers all information necessary to make smart and timely water treatment decisions. One of these is swift results in as little as 15 minutes, with no incubation required. It also delivers precise results through the use of a smartphone and actionable information for system treatment when required.
The Rapid Bio Intelligence solution consists of three components viz. a test kit, Nalco Water E-data mobile app and the ECOLAB3D cloud-based digital platform. Rapid Bio Intelligence is verified in compliance with ISO 14034 standards.
Market Prospects
Per a report by MordorIntelligence.com, the global water testing market is projected to see a CAGR of 7.33% during the forecast period of 2020 -2025.
Other Developments
In June 2020, Ecolab introduced its Pest Elimination Rodent Ceiling Service, which will offer additional monitoring and protection for hard-to-access ceiling areas. This new service is likely to provide a boost to the company’s Other segment that comprises of two units — Pest Elimination and Equipment Care and are primarily fee-for-service businesses.
In February 2020, Ecolab launched Eco-Flex Teat Dip, an effective and affordable udder care solution for dairy cows that helps in the prevention of infection, improvement of teat health and supports milk quality.This has boosted the company’s Food & Beverage unit of its Global Industrial segment.
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Danaher - >>> Beckman Coulter's SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization
PR Newswire
June 29, 2020
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/beckman-coulters-sars-cov-2-120000512.html
Only IgG assay from top four in vitro diagnostic manufacturers that detects antibodies targeting the receptor binding domain on the spike protein
Company able to deliver 30 million tests per month, and now available in all countries accepting FDA EUA and CE Mark
Serology test has confirmed 100% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity
BREA, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Beckman Coulter today announced that its Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Beckman Coulter has already shipped tests to more than 400 hospitals, clinics and diagnostics laboratories in the U.S., and has begun distribution of the new antibody test globally to countries that accept the FDA EUA and CE Mark. The company is able to deliver more than 30 million tests a month.
Henry Ford Health System was one of the first health systems to receive Beckman Coulter's test and independently validate its performance.
"We selected the Beckman Coulter Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay to be the backbone of Henry Ford's COVID-19 serology testing program because of its outstanding performance in our rigorous independent evaluation," said Dr. Bernard C Cook, Division Head of Chemistry-Pathology, Henry Ford Health System. "Henry Ford found when running the Beckman Coulter SARS-CoV-2 assay on 204 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patient samples, a test sensitivity of 100% at 14 days post-PCR and testing of 80 patient samples from the pre-COVID era yielded a specificity of 100%."
"At a time when significant confusion was created by the initial influx of poor-quality antibody tests, our team worked meticulously to develop a highly sensitive and specific assay," said Julie Sawyer Montgomery, president of Beckman Coulter. "With 100% Positive Percent Agreement and 99.6% Negative Percent Agreement, our test significantly reduces the risk for false positives, delivering the results that health care providers and their patients can trust. A lot has been written about accuracy issues with the initially launched antibody tests, but a test at this level offers positive predictive values greater than 90% even in very low prevalence communities. And, in areas hardest hit by the virus, the positive predictive values of our assay are greater than 98%.1,2"
Additionally, of the tests developed by the top four in vitro diagnostic manufacturers capable of delivering high-volume testing to the U.S., Beckman Coulter's test is the only SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay which targets antibodies that recognize the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein which SARS-CoV-2 uses to bind to a human cell receptor. This is significant as antibodies which target the RBD have the potential to be neutralizing and thus prevent future infection by blocking the virus from entering the cell. It is for this reason many vaccine developers are also targeting the RBD of the spike protein in their vaccine development.3
Beckman Coulter has more than 16,000 immunoassay analyzers worldwide, 3,500 of which are in the United States. Many of Beckman Coulter's analyzers can deliver up to 400 routine tests an hour. A large number of analyzers are connected to hospital information systems, enabling laboratories to automate the reporting of serology test results. The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG test can also be run on Beckman Coulter's Access 2 analyzer, a compact table-top analyzer enabling high-quality serology testing to be carried out in small hospitals and clinics. This test seamlessly integrates into laboratory workflows making it easy to add serology testing to routine blood tests performed during inpatient and wellness testing. This type of testing can enable health systems to comprehensively determine the immune status of their communities and potentially identify individuals that are eligible for future plasma donation.
"We anticipate that understanding the immune status of communities and convalescent plasma donation will play important roles in the fight against COVID-19 before a vaccine is widely available," said Shamiram R. Feinglass, M.D., MPH, chief medical officer Beckman Coulter. "While there is more to learn regarding how long an individual's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus lasts, this test may be crucial to determining the portion of the population that may already be immune."
Sawyer Montgomery added, "Our assay can be utilized in a variety of healthcare settings, including central laboratories, as well as smaller clinics and hospitals in underserved communities with a range of Beckman Coulter immunoassay analyzers. This accessibility is vital to ensuring all communities, including minority, rural and urban have access to this testing and answers they can trust."
While immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies play a prominent role in the body's primary antibody response to infection, they decline within a short timeframe. IgG antibodies begin developing within the first 14 days, and may last for months or years depending upon the pathogen and the individual.
Dr. Feinglass added, "We developed the Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG test to help clinicians determine if a patient was infected with COVID-19 in the past and developed an immune response. In contrast, a total antibody test can't help a clinician determine whether an individual is currently infected or whether they developed an immune response from an earlier infection. The clinician must therefore perform additional testing, requiring added time and cost."
About the Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay
The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay is a qualitative immunoassay that detects IgG antibodies directed to the receptor binding domain of the spike protein of the novel coronavirus that is driving the ongoing global pandemic. It is believed that these antibodies have the potential to be neutralizing antibodies and may play a role in lasting immunity. The test has a confirmed 100% Positive Percent Agreement (sensitivity) and 99.6% Negative Percent Agreement (specificity) and at 18 days post PCR confirmed positive test. The assay uses immobilized virus antigens on magnetic particles to capture IgG antibodies from patient blood or serum samples and reveals them using labeled anti-IgG antibodies. The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay can be used with a variety of Beckman Coulter analyzers, including the high-throughput DxI 800 designed for large labs, to the DxI 600 for mid-sized labs and the DxCi and Access 2 analyzers for smaller labs and healthcare clinics. The assay can be seamlessly integrated into existing workflows without batch processing.
Beckman Coulter will continue to focus on bringing innovative tests to market, and will be seeking EUA for IL-6 and Access SARS-CoV-2 IgM in the near future. For the latest information on the Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay, or for more information about Beckman Coulter's commitment to the fight against COVID-19, visit: www.BeckmanCoulter.com/Coronavirus.
About Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter is committed to advancing healthcare for every person by applying the power of science, technology and the passion and creativity of our teams to enhance the diagnostic laboratory's role in improving healthcare outcomes. Our diagnostic systems are used in complex biomedical testing, and are found in hospitals, reference laboratories and physician office settings around the globe. Beckman Coulter offers a unique combination of people, processes and solutions designed to elevate the performance of clinical laboratories and healthcare networks. We do this by accelerating care with a menu that matters, bringing the benefit of automation to all, delivering greater insights through clinical informatics and unlocking hidden value through performance partnership. An operating company of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) since 2011, Beckman Coulter is headquartered in Brea, Calif., and has more than 11,000 global associates working diligently to make the world a healthier place.
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>>> Accenture beats revenue estimates on digital push, shares rise
Reuters
June 25, 2020
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/accenture-narrows-fy-revenue-growth-112549599.html
(Reuters) - IT consulting firm Accenture Plc beat analysts' estimates for third-quarter revenue and profit on Thursday and forecast strong bookings for the current quarter, sending its shares up about 8%.
The company has shifted its focus to offering digital and cloud services, which include managing clients’ social media marketing strategies and helping them move to cloud, in a bid to boost margins.
New bookings grew 4% to $11 billion in the third quarter ended May 31, with digital, cloud and security-related services accounting for about 70% of them, Chief Financial Officer Kathleen McClure said in an earnings call with analysts.
Revenue slipped nearly 1% to $10.99 billion but managed to edge past analysts' average estimates of $10.87 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
Excluding items, the company earned $1.90 per share, beating analysts' estimates of $1.85 per share.
The online consulting and service provider, however, narrowed its fiscal 2020 revenue growth forecast to between 3.5% and 4.5% amid the coronavirus-fueled economic slump. The prior forecast was for a growth of 3% to 6%.
Accenture, which competes with Cognizant and major Indian IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro, expects foreign exchange rates to negatively impact its full-year results by 1.5% compared to fiscal year 2019.
Shares of the company were up at $217.19 in morning trade on Thursday.
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>>> STERIS plc (STE) provides infection prevention and other procedural products and services worldwide. It operates in four segments: Healthcare Products, Healthcare Specialty Services, Life Sciences, and Applied Sterilization Technologies. The Healthcare Products segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; accessories for gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, equipment management services, and connectivity solutions. It also provides capital equipment installation, maintenance, upgradation, repair, and troubleshooting services. This segment offers its products and services to acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and GI clinics. The Healthcare Specialty Services segment provides solutions and managed services, such as instrument and endoscope repair and maintenance solutions; custom process improvement consulting services; and outsourced instrument sterile processing services to acute care hospitals and other healthcare settings. The Life Sciences segment offers formulated cleaning chemistries, barrier products, sterility assurance products, steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizers, and washer disinfectors. The Applied Sterilization Technologies segment provides contract sterilization services through a network of approximately 50 contract sterilization and laboratory facilities. The company was founded in 1985 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.
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>>> Accenture plc (ACN) provides consulting, technology, and outsourcing services worldwide. Its Communications, Media & Technology segment provides professional services for clients to accelerate and deliver digital transformation, develop industry-specific solutions, and enhance efficiencies and business results for communications, media, high tech, software, and platform companies. The company's Financial Services segment offers services for profitability pressures, industry consolidation, regulatory changes, and the need to continually adapt to new digital technologies for banking, capital market, and insurance industries. Its Health & Public Service segment provides consulting services and digital solutions to help clients deliver social, economic, and health outcomes for healthcare payers and providers, government departments and agencies, public service organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. The company's Products segment helps clients enhance their performance in distribution, sales, and marketing; in research and development, and manufacturing; and in business functions, such as finance, human resources, procurement, and supply chain. This segment serves clients in consumer goods, retail, and travel services industries; automotive, freight and logistics, industrial and electrical equipment, consumer durable and heavy equipment, and construction and infrastructure management companies; and pharmaceutical, medical technology, and biotechnology companies. Its Resources segment enables clients in chemicals, energy, forest products, metals and mining, and utilities and related industries to develop and implement strategies, improve operations, manage complex change initiatives, and integrate digital technologies. Accenture plc has alliance relationships with Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Pegasystems, Salesforce, SAP, Workday, TradeIX, and others. Accenture plc was founded in 1989 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.
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>>> EPAM Systems, Inc. (EPAM) provides digital platform engineering and software development services in North America, Europe, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Asia, and Australia. The company offers engineering services, including requirements analysis and platform selection, customization, cross-platform migration, implementation, and integration; infrastructure management services, such as software development, testing, and maintenance with private, public, and mobile infrastructures for application, database, network, server, storage, and systems operations management, as well as monitoring, incident notification, and resolution services; and maintenance and support services. It also provides operation solutions comprising integrated engineering practices and smart automation; and optimization solutions that include software application testing, test management, automation, and consulting services to enable customers enhance their existing software testing and quality assurance practices, as well as other testing services that identify threats and close loopholes to protect its customers' business systems from information loss. In addition, the company offers industry, technology, experience, and technical advisory consulting services; and digital and service design solutions, which comprise strategy, design, creative, and program management services, as well as physical product development. It serves the financial services, travel and consumer, software and hi-tech, business information and media, life sciences and healthcare, and other industries. EPAM Systems, Inc. has a partnership with Curogram to help healthcare systems implement a simplified COVID-19 crisis response solution. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
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>>> AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) provides a range of packaging, dispensing, and sealing solutions primarily for the beauty, personal care, home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectable, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through three segments: Beauty + Home, Pharma, and Food + Beverage. The Beauty + Home segment primarily sells pumps, closures, aerosol valves, accessories, and sealing solutions to the personal care and home care markets; and pumps and decorative components components to the beauty market. The Pharma segment provides pumps for nasal allergy treatments; and metered dose inhaler valves for respiratory ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in pharmaceutical market; and elastomer for injectable primary packaging components. The Food + Beverage segment offers dispensing and non-dispensing closures, elastomeric flow control components, spray pumps, and aerosol valves to the food and beverage markets. The company also manufactures and sells elastomeric primary packaging components for injectable market, which include stoppers for infusion, antibiotic, lyophilization, and diagnostic vials; and pre-filled syringe components, such as plungers, needle shields, tip caps and cartridges, and dropper bulbs and syringe plungers. The company sells its products through own sales force, as well as independent representatives and distributors in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. AptarGroup, Inc. has a strategic partnership with PureCycle Technologies LLC to develop ultra-pure recycled polypropylene into dispensing applications; and a collaboration with Sonmol for developing a digital therapies and services platform targeting respiratory and other diseases. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
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>>> NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO) operates a network of cancer-focused testing laboratories in the United States, as well as laboratories in Switzerland and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Clinical Services and Pharma Services. The company's laboratories provide genetic and molecular testing services to hospitals, pathologists, oncologists, urologists, other clinicians and researchers, pharmaceutical firms, academic centers, and other clinical laboratories. It offers cytogenetics testing services to study normal and abnormal chromosomes and their relationship to diseases; fluorescence in-situ hybridization testing services that focus on detecting and locating the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences and genes on chromosomes; flow cytometry testing services to measure the characteristics of cell populations; immunohistochemistry and digital imaging testing services to localize proteins in cells of a tissue section, as well as to allow clients to see and utilize scanned slides, and perform quantitative analysis for various stains; and molecular testing services, which focus on the analysis of DNA and RNA, and the structure and function of genes at the molecular level. The company also provides morphologic analysis which is the process of analyzing cells under the microscope by a pathologist for the purpose of diagnosis; and testing services in support of its pharmaceutical clients' oncology programs covering discovery and commercialization, as well as acts as a reference laboratory supplying anatomic pathology testing services. NeoGenomics, Inc. has a strategic collaboration with Inivata Limited for the commercialization of its InVisionFirst-Lung liquid biopsy test in the United States. NeoGenomics, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida.
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>>> Exponent, Inc. (EXPO), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a science and engineering consulting company worldwide. Its services include analysis of product development, product recall, regulatory compliance, and the discovery of potential problems related to products, people, property, and impending litigation. The company operates in two segments, Engineering and Other Scientific, and Environmental and Health. The Engineering and Other Scientific segment provides services in the areas of biomechanics, biomedical engineering, buildings and structures, civil engineering, construction consulting, electrical engineering and computer science, human factors, industrial structures, materials and corrosion engineering, mechanical engineering, polymer science and materials chemistry, statistical and data sciences, thermal sciences, and vehicle analysis. The Environmental and Health segment offers services in the areas of chemical regulation and food safety, ecological and biological sciences, environmental and earth sciences, and health sciences. The company offers approximately 90 different technical disciplines to solve complicated issues facing industry and government. It serves clients in chemical, construction, consumer products, energy, food, beverage and nutrition, government, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, technology, industrial equipment, transportation, and other sectors of the economy. The company was formerly known as The Failure Group, Inc. and changed its name to Exponent, Inc. in 1998. Exponent, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
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>>> Church & Dwight Co. (CHD), Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets household, personal care, and specialty products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Consumer Domestic, Consumer International, and Specialty Products Division. The company offers cat litters, carpet deodorization, laundry detergents, and baking soda, as well as other baking soda based products under the ARM & HAMMER brand; condoms, lubricants, and vibrators under the TROJAN brand; stain removers, cleaning solutions, laundry detergents, and bleach alternatives under the OXICLEAN brand; battery-operated and manual toothbrushes under the SPINBRUSH brand; home pregnancy and ovulation test kits under the FIRST RESPONSE brand; depilatories under the NAIR brand; oral analgesics under the ORAJEL brand; laundry detergents under the XTRA brand; gummy dietary supplements under the L'IL CRITTERS and VITAFUSION brands; dry shampoos under the BATISTE brand; water flossers and replacement showerheads under the WATERPIK brand; and hair removal products under the FLAWLESS brand. It provides specialty products, including animal productivity products, such as MEGALAC rumen bypass fat, a supplement, which enables cows to maintain energy levels during the period of high milk production; BIO-CHLOR and FERMENTEN, which are designed to help reduce health issues associated with calving, as well as provides needed protein; and CELMANAX refined functional carbohydrate, a yeast based prebiotic. In addition, the company offers sodium bicarbonate; and cleaning and deodorizing products. It sells its consumer products through supermarkets, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, drugstores, convenience stores, home stores, dollar and other discount stores, pet and other specialty stores, and Websites and other e-commerce channels; and specialty products to industrial customers and livestock producers through distributors. The company was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey.
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