Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat: I would like your opinion on Stryker Corporation. I do hold it, but am thinking of adding to it. Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: Stryker Corp., $155.82, symbol SYK on New York (Shares outstanding: 374.2 million; Market cap: $57.9 billion; www.stryker.com), sells a range of medical products, including implants used in joint-replacement; surgical equipment; endoscopic devices (for looking inside the body); communications systems; patient-handling and emergency medical equipment; neurosurgical, neurovascular and spinal devices; and a range of other specialized medical gear. The company has a history of using acquisitions to expand. Between 2012 and 2016, it spent $7.9 billion buying related firms. Largely due to those new operations, Stryker’s revenue rose 30.8%, from $8.7 billion in 2012 to $11.3 billion in 2016. However, its earnings fell 30.4%, from $3.39 a share (or a total of $1.3 billion) in 2012 to $1.34 a share (or $515 million) in 2014. That’s due to higher expenses related to the recall of certain products. Earnings then improved to $3.78 a share (or $1.4 billion) in 2015, and reached $4.35 a share (or $1.6 billion) in 2016. Stryker spends around 6%…