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BECTON DICKINSON & CO. $234 is a buy. The medical device maker (New York symbol BDX; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 283.9 million; Market cap: $66.4 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.bd.com) has agreed to acquire the Critical Care product group of Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (New York symbol EW) for $4.2 billion. This business makes equipment to monitor the vital signs of patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. The new operations will add roughly $900 million to Becton’s annual revenue of $19.7 billion. As well, Critical Care’s revenue is rising by about 6% to 7% annually. The purchase will also let Becton cross sell its other products to Critical Care’s clients. Becton Dickinson is a buy. MERCK & CO. INC. $128 is a buy. The drugmaker (New York symbol MRK; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 2.5 billion; Market cap: $320.0 billion; Dividend yield: 2.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.merck.com) has agreed to acquire privately held biotech EyeBio for as much as $3 billion. It will pay $1.3…