Perrigo set to become pure-play leader

Article Excerpt

PERRIGO CO. PLC $44 (New York symbol PRGO, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 136.0 million; Market cap: $7.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.0%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.perrigo.com) took its current form in June 2013 when it merged with Irish-based drug maker Elan Corporation, plc. The combined firm is now based in Dublin, Ireland. The company is one of the world’s largest makers of over-the-counter (OTC) health-care products. Those include treatments for cough, cold, allergies and pain. It also makes antacids, vitamins, smoking-cessation products, baby formula and food, and animal health products. Perrigo sells those products mainly under the private-label brands of retail chains. Walmart is its biggest customer, accounting for about 13% of overall sales. The U.S. supplies 65% of its sales, followed by Europe (29%) and other countries (6%). Perrigo reported sales of $4.23 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. In 2016, it changed its fiscal year end to December 31. Sales then fell 6.3%, from $5.28 billion in 2016 to $4.95 billion…