Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JGoren who wrote (774)	12/15/1998 8:14:00 AM
From: John F Beule	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

U.S. Drugmakers Could See Lagging Earnings Growth, WSJ Reports New York, Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Merck & Co., Eli Lilly & Co., Johnson & Johnson and Schering Plough Corp. could see lagging earnings growth over the next several years as the drugmakers' patents on popular drugs end and there aren't enough drugs in development, the Wall Street Journal reported in its ''Heard on the Street'' column. Merck's announcement last week that 1999 profit would be $4.85 to $4.95 a share, less than the $4.97 average expected by analysts polled by First Call Corp., could indicate that more such announcements are likely. Revived efforts at health-care reform legislation in Washington could also cut earnings, and drugmakers' ''strength of the last few years will be hard to sustain,'' said Steven Gerber, an analyst at CIBC Oppenheimer & Co., according to the WSJ. Merck is lagging rival Monsanto Co. in the battle for the U.S. drug market, and Merck plans to add about 700 new U.S. sales representatives next year -- a 17.5 percent increase -- to target primary care physicians. (WSJ 12/15 C1 wsj.com) 06:26:46 12/15/1998 Any redistribution of Bloomberg content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Bloomberg L.P. Any reference to the material must be properly attributed to Bloomberg News. The information herein was obtained from sources which Bloomberg L.P. and its suppliers believe reliable, but they do not guarantee its accuracy. Neither the information, nor any opinion expressed, constitutes a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any securities or commodities.(C) Copyright 1998 Bloomberg L.P. BLOOMBERG, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Financial Markets, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg News Radio are trademarks, tradenames and service marks of Bloomberg L.P.