Best of the Health Care Mutual Funds

Sector or ‘theme’ funds entail special risks, but they are much safer than investing in one or two issues in risky fields such as health care and biotechnology.

If you invest in sector funds, limit your investment to modest quantities. Above all, invest only in funds… Read More

Baxter International Inc. $63 – New York symbol BAX

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $63 (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 627.4 million; Market cap: $39.5 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) makes medical equipment through three main divisions. Medication Delivery makes intravenous equipment and systems (38% of 2007 sales); BioScience… Read More

Four Medical Suppliers With Special Pluses

Demand for medical equipment tends to grow or hold steady, regardless of swings in the overall economy. Recurring revenues from long-time customers gives these four makers of medical equipment and supplies an advantage over other health stocks. They also face little competition from generic products… Read More

Baxter International Inc. $56 – New York symbol BAX

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $56 (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 644.7 million; Market cap: $36.1 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) makes medical equipment through three main divisions. Medication Delivery makes intravenous equipment and systems (roughly 40% of sales); BioScience… Read More

Profiting From An Aging Population

We generally recommend investors avoid pharmaceutical companies, due to the huge costs and risks of developing new drugs.

Companies that sell medical devices and replenishable supplies to hospitals, clinics and laboratories offer a much safer way to take advantage of the demographic trend of an aging… Read More

Small Recall Overshadows Big Profit Gain

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $54 (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 651.5 million; Market cap: $35.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) fell 5% after it recalled some models of its Colleague medication-delivery pumps. The recall affects just 4,500 of the… Read More

Restructuring paved the way to growth

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $57 (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 651.5 million; Market cap: $37.1 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) operates in three areas of the biotechnology industry. Its Bioscience division makes equipment and drugs for treatment of hemophilia… Read More