We still like these medical device makers

Article Excerpt

These two producers of medical devices are selling or spinning off smaller operations. That will let them better focus on their main businesses. Although both stocks have dropped lately due to fears that new weight-loss drugs will hurt demand for their products, we feel both will benefit from an aging population. BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. $39 is a buy. The company (New York symbol BAX; Conservative Growth Portfolio; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 505.9 million; Market cap: $19.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 3.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.baxter.com) still plans to spin off its Renal Care and Acute Therapies unit as a separate firm called Vantive by July 2024. It makes kidney dialysis machines and related equipment. These businesses supply 30% of Baxter’s revenue. The company also recently sold its BioPharma division to private-equity firms Advent International and Warburg Pincus for $4.25 billion (or $3.4 billion after taxes). The remaining operations will focus on making specialized equipment for hospitals, including intensive-care-unit beds, operating tables, patient monitoring equipment…