Topic: How To Invest

Please provide your opinion on Covidien. Thank you in advance.

Article Excerpt

Covidien, $65.95, symbol COV on New York (Shares outstanding: 470.5 million; Market cap: $30.8 billion; www.covidien.com), is a leading global maker and seller of health care products for use in homes and medical facilities. Its products are found in most U.S. hospitals, and it has a growing presence outside the country. The company operates through three segments: Medical Devices (which supplies 68% of total sales), Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (17%) and Medical Supplies (15%). In the three months ended March 29, 2013, Covidien’s revenue rose 5.3%, to $3.10 billion from $2.94 billion a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 6.7%, to $1.12 from $1.05. Covidien holds cash of $1.7 billion, or $3.61 a share. Its $4.6-billion long-term debt is a low 15% of its $30.7-billion market cap. The company expects to finish setting up Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals as a separate, publicly traded company on June 28, 2013. The unit’s main drugs include generic extended-release Ritalin and chronic pain treatment Exalgo…