Medtronic
First the bad news: Defibrillator sales remain weak. The year-over-year decline isn't surprising; the weaker economy puts a drag on procedures as patients reconsider the cost-benefit analysis for procedures that are less than life-threatening. Still, there's always an opportunity to take market share from Boston Scientific
Core spinal products, Medtronic's second-best selling group, remains weak with flat sales. Biologics used in spinal procedures were down nearly 4%. Blame it on the economy again, plus its struggling bone-fusion biologic Infuse, which fell 16% as doctors continue to question its efficacy/safety profile.
Sales of Physio-Control were flat, but that's meaningless at this point since Medtronic announced an agreement to sell the segment to Bain Capital. By my calculations, the segment wasn't contributing much to the bottom line.
The good news is that almost everything else was up. The cardiovascular segment was up 12% -- there's an opportunity there with Johnson & Johnson
Now just imagine what Medtronic could do if it can get its large units back on the growth track.
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