Mergers and acquisitions hit a very rapid pace in 2013, valued at close to $34 billion. The team at Bank of America Merrill Lynch sees 2014 being a promising year for biotech mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The firm even noted that M&A is a fundamental growth driver for many specialty pharmaceutical companies.
The $34 billion or so in the space was larger in 2013 than it was in 2012 and 2011 combined. Driving forces for continued M&A in the sector are easy access to capital and those companies with new management and/or tax structures become more acquisitive.
Merrill Lynch also cited that investors have rewarded acquiring companies, and these companies were able to raise more than $31 billion in debt capital in 2013. The Merrill Lynch analyst team issuing the report includes research from the firm’s Gregg Gilbert, Sumant Kulkarnia and Gregory Fraser. Stock prices are also at or challenging all-time highs in many cases in the sector. Where this is also interesting is that Merrill Lynch believes that tax-advantaged companies could become targets themselves.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Own For 2015: NeoPhotonics Corp (NPTN)
NeoPhotonics Corporation, incorporated on October 31, 1996, is a designer and manufacturer of photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based modules and subsystems for bandwidth-intensive, high-speed communications networks. The Company has a portfolio of over 300 products, including products that enable data transmission at 10 gigabytes per second, 40 gigabytes per second and 100 gigabytes per second, agility products, such as reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) that allocate bandwidth to adjust for volatile traffic patterns, and access products that provide high-bandwidth connections to more devices and people over fixed and wireless networks. In October 2011, the Company acquired Santur Corporation. In June 2013, it announced first shipments of optical transceiver modules out of its new, high capacity factory in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China.
The Company�� products are categorized in 34 product families. The Company sells its products to the network equipment vendors globally, including ADVA AG Optical Networking Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent SA, Ciena Corporation (including its recent acquisition of Nortel�� Metro Ethernet Networks business), Cisco Systems, Inc., FiberHome Technologies Group, ECI Telecom Ltd., Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Fujitsu Limited, Harmonic, Inc., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, NEC Corporation, Nokia Siemens Networks B.V. and ZTE Corporation.
The Company competes with Finisar Corporation, JDS Uniphase Corporation, MRV Communications, Inc., NTT Electronics Corporation and Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Anders Bylund]
Close competitor NeoPhotonics (NYSE: NPTN ) soared 15% higher. Larger rival JDS Uniphase (NASDAQ: JDSU ) jumped 7.9% to become the fastest gainer on the S&P 500. If Ciena can beat its own expectations in selling Internet backbone equipment to a bevy of major telecoms, its chief rivals must eventually follow suit. JDS is only one month removed from its latest quarterly report, which sent shares diving 7% overnight (but all was forgiven a week later). NeoPhotonics also reported in early May, but didn't make any waves then.
Top 5 Promising Stocks To Watch For 2014: Neuralstem Inc (CUR)
Neuralstem, Inc., incorporated in 1997, is a development-stage company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for central nervous system disease based on transplanting human neural stems cells and the use of small molecule drugs. The Company has developed and maintains a portfolio of patents and patent applications that form base for its research and development efforts in the area of neural stem cell research. The Company's focus is the development of methods to generate replacement cells from neural stem cells.
In October of 2011, the Company announced that after reviewing safety data from the first 12 patients, the FDA granted approval for the trial to advance to transplanting patients in the cervical (upper back) region for the last six patients in the trial. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had treated 14 patients. In February of 2011, the Company commenced a Phase Ia clinical trial of its drug compound, NSI-189, which is being developed for the treatment of depressive disorder and other psychiatric indications. In October of 2011, the Company completed the Phase Ia portion of the trial. In December of 2011, the Company received approval from the FDA to commence the Phase Ib portion of the trial.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company was selected as the primary subcontractor for the United States Department of Defense (DOD) contract to develop human neural stem cell technology for the treatment of cancerous brain tumors. The Company commenced work on the project in May 2011. The Company has developed and patented a series of small molecule compounds (low molecular weights organic compounds which can efficiently cross the blood/brain barrier).
Advisors' Opinion:- [By GuruFocus]
George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated
- [By James E. Brumley]
When an investor thinks of spinal-related stem cell stocks, usually a name like Neuralstem, Inc (NYSEMKT: CUR) or StemCells Inc (NASDAQ: STEM) comes to mind. And well they should. STEM has logged some amazing breakthroughs in the field of spinal cord repair, while CUR has done the same. Not all back problems are spinal cord related though. In fact, most back problems - and therefore the most opportunity - are bone and disc related problems. That's where a young gun like BioRestorative Therapies (OTCBB: BRTX) can step in and make stem cell waves. BRTX has developed an approach to rejuvenate and revive failing spinal discs, potentially ending pain for millions of back-pain sufferers, and circumventing expensive spinal surgeries that are in increasing burden on insurance companies.
Top 5 Promising Stocks To Watch For 2014: Box Ships Inc.(TEU)
Box Ships Inc. owns and operates containerships. As of August 16, 2011, it operated a fleet of 7 containerships with a total carrying capacity of 33,237 twenty-foot equivalent units. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Athens, Greece.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Box Ships (NYSE: TEU) slipped 18.49% to $1.94 after the company priced 5 million units at $2.05 per unit.
China Auto Logistic (NASDAQ: CALI) shares dropped 9.06% to $3.17 after the company announced 2013 results. China Auto Logistic posted its net income of $524,260, or $0.14 per share.
- [By ABN]
TAL International Group (TAL) is one of the world's largest lessors of intermodal freight containers for the shipping business with 17 offices in 11 countries and approximately 230 third-party container depot facilities in 40 countries. TAL's fleet consists of approximately 1,238,000 containers and 2,031,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).
Top 5 Promising Stocks To Watch For 2014: Trulia Inc (TRLA)
Trulia, Inc. is a real estate search engine company. The Company helps in finding homes for sale and provides real estate information. The Company is also a tool for real estate professionals to market their listings, view real estate data and promote their services. It provides local information, community insights, market data and national listings. Effective August 20, 2013, Trulia Inc acquired the entire interest of Market Leader Inc.
Trulia.com is an online real estate site focused on buyers, sellers and renters with tools to help them find the right home. The Company�� Website, www.trulia.com, is a search engine for buying and renting homes, advising homes and mortgages. The Company is headquartered in downtown San Francisco and is backed by Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
Trulia Inc. (NYSE: TRLA) was very bullish at the conference, citing very strong traffic trends. In fact its CFO said it has a waiting list for customers in sold-out markets and it was ��assive.��The Deutsche Bank target price is set at $50, the same as the consensus target.
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