Upcoming spinoffs & other opportunities

Article Excerpt

NOVARTIS AG (ADR) $87 (New York symbol NVS; Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.3 billion; Market cap: $200.1 billion; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.novartis.com) is a Swiss-based company that researches, develops, manufactures, and markets a range of healthcare products worldwide. Novartis has now hired an investment bank to review options for its dermatology business. That operation makes a range of products, from steroid ointments to creams for atopic dermatitis and genital warts. It could sell for as much as $1.5 billion. The company is also pondering whether to sell its Alcon eye-care business. It could fetch as much as $35 billion, but Novartis will likely wait for Alcon’s business to improve before putting it up for sale. Novartis is okay to hold. DAIMLER AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange symbol DAI) is best known for its Mercedes Benz vehicles. They include cars and SUVs as well as commercial vans and buses. Daimler plans to reorganize its five business…