STAAR Surgical pulls 2020 guidance amid COVID-19

Citing COVID-19 disruptions, STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ:STAA) is withdrawing its outlook for fiscal 2020.

STAAR expects Q1 total net sales to be ~$34.9M, up ~7% Y/Y.

COVID-19 negatively impacted Q1 sales by ~$4M.

Q1 ICL unit growth is expected to be up ~9%.

The company expects to report complete Q1 financial results on or about May 6.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560075-staar-surgical-pulls-2020-guidance-amid-covidminus-19

Apps collecting data to help stop virus spread could invade privacy

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google’s (GOOG, GOOGL) joint initiative to build a platform that helps contain the spread of the coronavirus looks promising, but steps are needed to prevent it from becoming an invasion of privacy of users for the long term, a cybersecurity expert told CNBC.

Apple and Google say they are prioritizing privacy by making sure “that this information about who your contacts are, who you’ve been near, cannot be accessed for any other purposes,” but the reasons for collecting personal information must be made clear so people can see that the benefits outweigh the costs, said Josephine Wolff from Tufts University.

The tech giants recently unveiled a partnership to add technology to their smartphone platforms that will alert users if they have come into contact with a person with Covid-19.

“When you look at some of the alerts being sent out through the South Korean system, you have people’s genders, people’s ages, the neighborhoods where they live, the places where they work – a lot of information that you don’t necessarily need to share in order to alert somebody” to the presence of the virus, Wolff said.

“That’s going to be the really important question… how do we limit this use of information so it doesn’t turn into a mass invasion of privacy long term.”

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560002-apps-collecting-data-to-help-stop-virus-spread-invade-privacy-expert-says

No significant impact on Q1 from COVID-19 – DaVita

DaVita (NYSE:DVA) says its operations in Q1 were not impacted by COVID-19 until late March, so there was no significant effect on its financial performance for the quarter.

It also has not experienced any major issues in billing or cash collections, although it did draw down an additional $500M from its credit revolver last month to beef up its balance sheet.

It will release final results on May 5.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560013-no-significant-impact-on-q1-from-covidminus-19-davita

Danaher pulls back 2020 guidance amid COVID-19

Citing COVID-19 disruptions, Danaher (NYSE:DHR) is withdrawing its previously announced 2020 financial guidance.

The company expects Q1 revenue growth of ~3.0% and non-GAAP core revenue growth of ~4.5%.

DHR will report Q1 financial results on May 7, 2020, and webcast its conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560034-danaher-pulls-back-2020-guidance-amid-covidminus-19

Bausch Health launches study of Virazole in COVID-19

Bausch Health Companies (NYSE:BHC) has initiated a clinical trial program in Canada evaluating Virazole (ribavirin), combined with standard support care, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory distress. The study should launch within the next few weeks.

The company says ribavirin is a synthetic nucleoside that works by stopping viral replication, so it may be effective in reducing the severity of COVID-19. It is currently approved in Canada, the U.S. and certain other countries for hospitalized pediatric patients with severe lower respiratory tract infections due to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

Shares up 1% premarket on light volume.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560039-bausch-health-launches-study-of-virazole-in-covidminus-19

Analyst action, April 13

Allogene Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ALLO) initiated with Buy rating and $29 (28% upside) price target at SunTrust.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ:MDRX) initiated with Market Perform rating and $8 (10% upside) price target at SVB Leerink.

BridgeBio Pharma (NASDAQ:BBIO) initiated with Buy rating and $50 (76% upside) at H.C. Wainwright.

Cerner (NASDAQ:CERN) initiated with Outperform rating and $78 (14% upside) price target at Leerink.

Change Healthcare (NASDAQ:CHNG) resumed with Outperform rating and $13 (24% upside) price target at Leerink. Shares down 5% premarket.

Health Catalyst (NASDAQ:HCAT) initiated with Outperform rating and $31 (24% upside) price target at Leerink.

HealthEquity (NASDAQ:HQY) initiated with Market Perform rating and $53 (8% upside) price target at Leerink.

HMS Holdings (NASDAQ:HMSY) resumed with Outperform rating and $31 (16% upside) price target at Leerink.

Inovalon Holdings (NASDAQ:INOV) initiated with Outperform rating and $21 (27% upside) price target at Leerink.

Livongo Health (NASDAQ:LVGO) resumed with Outperform rating and $49 (47% upside) price target at Leerink. Shares up 2% premarket.

Neoleukin Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NLTX) initiated with Buy rating and $22 (94% upside) price target at Wainwright.

NextGen Healthcare (NASDAQ:NXGN) initiated with Market Perform rating and $12 (12% upside) price target at Leerink.

Phreesia (NYSE:PHR) initiated with Outperform rating and $24 (22% upside) price target at Leerink.

Premier (NASDAQ:PINC) initiated with Outperform rating and $42 (29% upside) price target at Leerink.

RAPT Therapeutics (NASDAQ:RAPT) initiated with Buy rating and $38 (121% upside) price target at Roth Capital.

Tabula Rasa HealthCare (NASDAQ:TRHC) initiated with Outperform rating and $65 (22% upside) price target at Leerink.

Teladoc (NYSE:TDOC) resumed with Outperform rating and $180 (22% upside) price target at Leerink.

Avanos Medical (NYSE:AVNS) upgraded to Equal Weight with a $30 (4% upside) price target at Barclays.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560052-leerink-rolls-out-lineup-of-bullish-calls-in-premarket-analyst-action

South Korea sees rise in recovered virus patients testing positive again

As some countries begin to ease coronavirus related shutdowns, flareups in South Korea and other parts of Asia are causing concern.

South Korea reports at least 116 people initially cleared of COVID-19 have tested positive again, even as officials suggest they will soon consider easing strict recommendations aimed at preventing new outbreaks.

Only 25 new cases overall are reported, but the rise in “reactivated” patients puzzles experts who say faulty tests may be playing a role, or remnants of the virus may remain in patients’ systems but not be infectious.

South Korea has called on residents to follow strict social distancing until at least April 19, but as cases have dropped and the weather has improved, a growing number of people have been flouting the guidelines.

Japan has seen its number of new cases climb rapidly in recent days and now has 7,255 confirmed cases of the virus.

Indonesia reported 316 new cases to total 4,557.

And China reported 108 new cases yesterday, the highest number in nearly six weeks, underscoring challenges faced in preventing a second wave.

ETFs: EWY, KORU, KF, DBKO, FLKR, HEWY, FKO

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3560003-south-korea-sees-rise-in-recovered-virus-patients-testing-positive-again