HCA Holdings down 5% premarket on Q2 miss

HCA Holdings (HCA) Q2 results: Revenues: $12,602M (+9.3%).

Net Income: $783M (-4.5%); EPS: $2.25 (-2.6%); Non-GAAP Net Income: $769M (-5.3%); Non-GAAP EPS: $2.21 (-3.5%); CF Ops: $2,971M (+3.7%).

2019 Guidance: Revenues: $50.5B – 51.5B (unch); EPS: $10.25 – 10.65 from $9.80 – 10.40; Non-GAAP EBITDA: $9.60B – 9.85B from $9.45B – 9.85B; Capex: ~$3.7B (unch).

Shares are down 5% premarket.

Previously: HCA Holdings EPS misses by $0.26, revenue in-line (July 30)

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483392-hca-holdings-5-percent-premarket-q2-miss

Valeritas up 12% premarket on potential CBD application for skin patch

Nano cap Valeritas Holdings (NASDAQ:VLRX) is up 12% premarket on robust volume in response to positive results from a preclinical study assessing the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously infused cannabidiol (CBD) administered via the company’s h-Patch wearable drug delivery device, a first according to the company.

The pharmacokinetics of wo doses (40 mg/24h and 76 mg/24h) were evaluated over a single 24-hour period at time points out to 48 hours from the start of infusion. Both showed rapid absorption and distribution in the blood within an hour followed by prolonged elimination (CBD still detectable 24 hours after infusion was completed).

The data will be submitted for presentation at a future medical conference.

Management will host a conference call today at 11:00 am ET to discuss the results.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483398-valeritas-12-percent-premarket-potential-cbd-application-skin-patch

Bayer warns on Crop Science struggles; Roundup plaintiffs rise

Bayer (OTCPK:BAYRY) plunges more than 4% in Europe after reporting Q2 profit fell 49% Y/Y to €404M, as the extreme weather across the U.S., Canada and Europe hurt Bayer’s Crop Science division, the company’s largest unit by sales.

Sales at Crop Science, the world’s largest seeds and pesticides producer, jumped nearly 60% to 4.8B in the quarter, thanks to last June’s addition of Monsanto, but sales fell 9.9% on like-for-like comparison of the combined business.

Bayer says it still aims to lift 2019 adjusted EBITDA to €12.2B ($13.6B), excluding the effect of currency swings and the planned sale of assets such as its animal health unit, but “this outlook is becoming increasingly ambitious in view of the challenging environment for the Crop Science business.”

Meanwhile, Bayer reports the number of U.S. plaintiffs blaming its Roundup weedkiller for their cancer climbed by another 5,000 to 18,400.

Bayer’s market cap has been slashed by more than €30B since last August, when a California jury, in the first such lawsuit, found that Monsanto should have warned users of the alleged cancer risks.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483399-bayer-warns-crop-science-struggles-roundup-plaintiffs-rise-another-5k

Utah Medical Products reports Q2 results

Utah Medical Products (NASDAQ:UTMD): Q2 GAAP EPS of $0.94.

Revenue of $11.85M (+8.0% Y/Y)

Press Release

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483421-utah-medical-products-reports-q2-results

Ligand Pharma Q2 top-line down 72%

Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) Q2 results: Revenues: $25M (-72.2%); Royalties: $6.6M (-79.0%); Material sales: $8.5M (+11.8%); License fees, milestones and other revenues: $9.8M (-80.8%).

Net Loss: ($14.4M) (-119.7%); Loss Per Share: ($0.74) (-124.7%); Non-GAAP Net Income: $13.9M (-77.1%); Non-GAAP EPS: $0.68 (-73.7%).

2019 guidance: Total Revenues: ~$118M (unch); non-GAAP EPS: ~$3.20 (unch).

Previously: Ligand Pharmaceuticals EPS beats by $0.02, beats on revenue(July 30)

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483419-ligand-pharma-q2-top-line-72-percent

Aytu Bio up 9% premarket on beefed up commercial plan for Natesto

Thinly traded nano cap Aytu BioScience (NASDAQ:AYTU) is up 9% premarket on modestly higher volume in reaction to its expanded agreement with commercialization partner Acerus Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:ASPCF).

Aimed at stoking U.S. sales of Natesto (testosterone) nasal gel, Acerus will fund and launch a specialty salesforce of at least 25 reps that will promote the intranasal testosterone replacement therapy to urologists and endocrinologists.

Aytu will continue to book Natesto revenue and will pay Acerus quarterly commissions from sales to urologists and endocrinologists.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483424-aytu-bio-9-percent-premarket-beefed-commercial-plan-natesto

Two shops soften view on Pfizer in premarket analyst action

Cellectar Biosciences (NASDAQ:CLRB) initiated with Buy rating and $6 (180% upside) price target at Brookline Capital. Shares up 8% premarket.

Heat Biologics (NASDAQ:HTBX) initiated with Buy rating and $8 (999% upside) price target at Brookline Capital.

Progenics Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PGNX) initiated with Buy rating and $10 (90% upside) price target at Brookline Capital.

Genomic Health (NASDAQ:GHDX) upgraded to Equal Weight with a $72 (1% downside risk) price target at Barclays. Downgraded to Hold with a $72 price target at Canaccord Genuity.

Zimmer Biomet Holdings (NYSE:ZBH) upgraded to Equal Weight with a $140 (4% upside) price target at Barclays.

Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) downgraded to Hold with a $300 (1% downside risk) price target at Canaccord. Shares down 1% premarket.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) downgraded to Neutral with a $41 (1% downside risk) price target at BofA Merrill Lynch. Downgraded to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

Pieris Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PIRS) downgraded to Neutral with a $5 (6% downside risk) price target at Baird. Shares down 4% premarket.

UniQure (NASDAQ:QURE) downgraded to Neutral at Guggenheim.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3483339-two-shops-soften-view-pfizer-premarket-analyst-action