For Immediate
Release
Chicago, IL – May 18, 2012 –
Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst
Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the
latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.
Stocks recently featured in the blog include Watson
Pharmaceuticals Inc. (WPI), Shire
(SHPGY), Depomed Inc. (DEPO), Comcast
Corporation (CMCSA) and Microsoft
Corporation (MSFT).
Get the most recent insight from
Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros
newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from
Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Watson & Shire in
Legal Battle
Watson Pharmaceuticals
Inc. (WPI) recently announced that it has filed an
Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for the approval of a generic version of
Shire’s (SHPGY) ulcerative colitis drug,
Lialda.
In response, Shire along with Cosmo
Technologies Ltd., and Guiliani International Ltd. filed a suit
against Watson Pharma in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of Florid, to prevent the generic company from
commercializing its generic drug prior to the expiration of
Lialda’s patent. Since the lawsuit was filed under the provisions
of the Hatch-Waxman Act, the FDA cannot approve Watson Pharma's
ANDA for up to 30 months from the date that Shire received notice
of the ANDA filing or until final resolution of the matter before
the court, whichever occurs earlier.
According to the IMS Health data,
sales of Lialda in the U.S. amounted to $390 million for the 12
months ended March 31, 2012.
Last month, Watson Pharma was in
another patent infringement lawsuit, when the company announced the
filing of an ANDA with the FDA for a generic version of
Depomed Inc.’s (DEPO) diabetes drug, Glumetza. The
drug is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic
control in adults with type II diabetes.
In response, Depomed and Valeant
International together filed a lawsuit against Watson Pharma in the
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, to prevent Watson
Pharma from commercializing generic Glumetza before the patents
expire.
Our View
We currently have a Neutral
recommendation on Watson Pharma. The stock carries a Zacks #2 Rank
(Buy rating) in the short run.
We expect the new generic product
launches over regular intervals to help drive sales of the
company’s Global Generic segment, which climbed 86% in the first
quarter of 2012 to $1.12 billion.
Comcast Teams Up with
Skype
Comcast
Corporation (CMCSA), the largest cable TV operator, is
teaming up with Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)-owned
Skype to launch high-definition (HD) video calls on Comcast’s
Xfinity cable TV services. We believe that Comcast has launched
this service in order to improve its subscriber base as well as add
another source of revenue for the company.
Comcast’s Xfinity TV is a web-based
on demand service for customers who can access both
video-programming and internet at the same time. Skype through
Xfinity TV includes an adaptor box, a high quality video camera and
helps subscribers to make and receive video calls on their HDTV.
Through a specially designed remote control they can send and
receive instant messages on Skype while watching a TV show.
Furthermore, customers can also accept incoming Skype audio calls
with the help of a caller ID.
It can incorporate the existing
Skype contacts into a global address book which also includes
Facebook, Outlook, gmail and smartphone contacts. This allows the
customer to find out whether any of his/her friends is online. The
company offers this service at $9.95 per month for Xfinity triple
pay customers.
With the loss of 37,000
subscribers, Comcast recently reported the 20th straight quarterly
decline in video customers. The ongoing macroeconomic fluctuations
and intensified competition in the pay-TV market are some of the
main reasons for the continuous slide.
We believe that Comcast will
benefit from the partnership because by providing Skype services
through television they would not lose subscribers who use Skype
through tablets and mobile phones. Additionally, bringing social
interaction through television viewing will place Comcast ahead of
its peers.
Comcast has already launched this
service in Boston and Seattle and expects to launch it in South
Florida by the end of this week, the success of which might prompt
the other service providers to come up with a similar service.
Want more from Zacks Equity
Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter:
http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity
Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the
best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors
know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for
a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are
organized by industry which gives them keen insights to
developments that affect company profits and stock performance.
Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail
newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks
Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today:
http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks
Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks.
As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market
data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his
many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock
picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the
market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the
profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks
Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter;
Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable
ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free
subscription to Profit from the Pros at
http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit
http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the
performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Disclaimer: Past performance does
not guarantee future results. Investors should always research
companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing
herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or
sell any security.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
COMCAST CORP A (CMCSA): Free Stock Analysis Report
DEPOMED INC (DEPO): Free Stock Analysis Report
MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report
SHIRE PLC-ADR (SHPGY): Free Stock Analysis Report
WATSON PHARMA (WPI): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024