C.R. BARD INC. $147 (New York symbol BCR; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 76.3 million; Market cap: $11.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.8; Dividend yield: 0.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.crbard.com) earned $152.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014, up 12.8% from $135.3 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 18.6%, to $1.91 from $1.61, on fewer shares outstanding. Sales gained 8.0%, to $799.3 million from $740.3 million.
These increases are mainly due to Bard’s new strategy, which involves buying other medical device makers and selling slower-growing businesses.
The company is also developing several promising new products; its research spending rose 8.4% in the latest quarter and accounted for 8.0% of its sales.
For example, the company is currently testing drug-coated balloons for treating clogged leg arteries. These products are less invasive than standard treatments.
C.R. Bard is a buy.