Orthopedics giant Stryker's (SYK +0.65%) impressed Wall Street in the early part of 2014, but this company is looking ahead to more than just the good feelings from its latest earnings report. Stryker is interested in growth -- and it is looking to buy its way to better results by snapping up small and innovative firms that can give it a leg up on its competition.
Stryker made waves last year when it acquired robotic surgery maker MAKO Surgical, and 2014's only brought more of a buying bonanza from this medical device giant. This past week, Stryker hit the headlines again by picking up German surgical tools firm Berchtold Holdings, a move it expects to boost its fast-growing endoscopy division. It's a much smaller deal than the MAKO buy, especially for a company of Stryker's size, with a market cap of more than $30 billion. But the acquisition of Berchtold gives a big boost to one of Stryker's under-the-radar growth drivers in endoscopy and highlights the company's M&A focus, something that's likely to dominate this company's news in the coming year.
Will Stryker's acquisitions drive reward investors, though? Motley Fool contributor Dan Carroll tells you what to expect from this company's latest buy -- and how Stryker's future could help the leading medical device stock surge.
