Medical device maker has a bright future

Article Excerpt

BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $62 (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 544.9 million; Market cap: $33.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.3; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.baxter. com) makes a variety of medical devices, including intravenous pumps and kidney-dialysis equipment. Hospital products supply 65% of its revenue; the remaining 35% comes from renal (kidney disease) equipment. The company’s revenue rose 17.5%, from $14.2 billion in 2012 to $16.7 billion in 2014. Overall earnings improved 6.6%, from $2.5 billion to $2.7 billion; earnings per share gained 8.1%, from $4.53 to $4.90, on fewer shares outstanding. Spinoff attracts profitable takeover bid In July 2015, Baxter spun off its pharmaceutical business, Baxalta, as a separate firm. Ireland-based Shire plc (Nasdaq symbol SHPG) later acquired Baxalta for $32.4 billion in cash and shares, Due to the spinoff, Baxter’s revenue fell to $10.0 billion in 2015 but rebounded to $10.2 billion in 2016. Thanks to a successful restructuring plan, which includes closing plants…