Is This Huge Market Slowing Down? (Fool.com)
Waiting for a recovery in the orthopedic market isn't exactly waiting for Godot, but it has been frustrating all the same. Between modest (but steady) price pressure, lower patient volumes, and more assertive hospital customers, major ortho companies like Zimmer (NYSE: ZMH ) , Stryker (NYSE: SYK ) , and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ ) have had their work cut out to generate better results from what has historically been one of the largest medical device markets, and a profitable one at that.
As the second quarter earnings cycle revs up, Biomet has started things off with its fiscal fourth quarter report. Although there's nothing in the report that should worry Zimmer investors (Zimmer is in the process of trying to get regulatory approvals for its acquisition of Biomet), there is likewise not a lot to really encourage investors hoping for a major return to growth in the quarter.
Major joints mostly steady as she goes
Biomet reports on an off-calendar basis, which compromises comparability, and there are often company-specific factors (new product launches or announced launches on the way, etc.) that can likewise impair comparisons....
