Archive for March, 2012

Deer Consumer Products, Inc. (DEER) soars on record 2011 results

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

Deer Consumer ProductsShares of China-based Deer Consumer Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: DEER) were up as much as 53 percent from Wednesday’s closing price on Thursday after the company reported record 2011 financial results, and a rosy outlook for 2012.

Shares climbed as high as $4.89 on Thursday, up from Wednesday’s closing price of $3.18.

The company reported 2011 revenue of $226.7 million, up 28.9 percent from the previous year. The growth was driven by the company’s sales expansion in the China domestic market for its Deer branded product lines coupled with Deer Consumer Products’ ability to raise the average selling prices of its products, a March 29 press release stated.

Net income for 2011 increased 31 percent to $39.8 million, or $1.18 per share, over the same period last year.

The company also reaffirmed its 2012 financial guidance, and stated that it expects 2012 revenue guidance of between $270 million and $290 million, and net income of between $45 million and $47 million.

Deer’s product mix includes housewares and appliances such as blenders, choppers, food processors, and microwave ovens.

“Deer currently has access to approximately 4,000 retail locations across China and has developed a well-recognized brand by working with various retail channels,” said Deer Consumer Products’ Chairman and CEO Bill He in a March 29 press release. “We believe China remains the world’s largest and fastest growing consumer retail market and has strong domestic demand for small household appliances. There are approximately 35,000 retail locations across China that Deer could potentially penetrate. Deer has significant growth potential in China.”

Shares of DEER are down roughly 39 percent over the past 12 months, according to historical data provided by Yahoo Finance.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMLN) soars on news of rejection of Bristol-Myers takeover bid

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Shares of diabetes drug maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) were up more than 50 percent from Tuesday’s closing price in morning trading on Wednesday after Bloomberg reported that Amylin rebuffed an unsolicited takeover bid from pharma giant Bristol-Myers Squib Co. (NYSE: BMY) for $3.5 billion, or $22 a share.

According to data provided by Yahoo Finance, shares of AMLN touched a high of $23.50 on Wednesday, up from Tuesday’s closing price of $15.39.

Reuters reported that Amylin has been considered a possible takeover target for quite some time. Spokeswomen for Bristol-Myers and Amylin refused to comment, Reuters reported.

Bristol Myers Squibb BMY“Bristol as an acquirer makes sense,” Robyn Karnauskas, an analyst with Deutsche Bank in New York, wrote in a note to clients today, Bloomberg reported. “Amylin could be worth up to $31 a share based on expense synergies. However, Bristol is financially disciplined.”

There have been 16 acquisitions more than $1 billion of biotech companies in Amylin’s peer group in the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The average disclosed size was $8 billion, with an average premium of 35 percent, the Bloomberg data show.