Medical technology company Medtronic owes rival device manufacturer Applied Medical Resources $382 million in damages for unlawfully monopolizing the market for blood-vessel sealing surgical devices, ... ...

Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) is included among the 15 Best Wide Moat Dividend Stocks to Invest in. UBS Makes a Modest Target Increase on Medtronic (MDT), Keeps Neutral Rating On February 4, UBS raised its price recommendation on Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) to $104 from $103. The firm kept a Neutral rating on the stock. A day earlier, Medtronic announced plans to acquire privately held CathWorks in a deal valued at up to $585 million. The move is aimed at strengthening its heart devices portfolio by adding a di ...

Core Insights - SonoVascular has developed an innovative system called SonoThrombectomy for thrombus removal, utilizing ultrasound energy, microbubbles, and low-dose thrombolytic drugs [3][4][19] - The company recently completed a $6 million Series A funding round, led by Harbright Ventures, with Robert Ross joining the board [1][19] - The technology aims to address significant health threats posed by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, which affect approximately 900,000 patients annually in the U.S. [6][19] Company Overview - SonoVascular's SonoThrombectomy system integrates ultrasound-mediated microbubble delivery, low-dose thrombolytic infusion, and mechanical thrombus retrieval, designed to minimize damage to blood vessels while effectively dissolving clots [3][4][19] - The system has shown promising results in preclinical studies, with a fourfold increase in thrombolytic drug penetration depth compared to controls, and a significant reduction in drug dosage without loss of efficacy [3][4][19] Clinical Progress - Initial human clinical trials in South America demonstrated 100% thrombus reduction in 10 patients, with no serious device-related adverse events reported [4][19] - Follow-up assessments at six months indicated significant improvements in symptoms and clinical scores related to post-thrombotic syndrome [4][19] Market Context - The current clinical guidelines recommend various management strategies for DVT, highlighting a gap in effective treatment options, particularly for proximal DVT [6][19] - SonoVascular aims to fill this gap by obtaining FDA approval for pivotal studies and initiating human trials for pulmonary embolism treatment, targeting a condition with a mortality rate of 10%-30% [6][19] Competitive Landscape - The technology represents a shift in thrombus management standards, potentially reducing blood loss and vascular trauma during treatment [20][26] - In contrast, Medtronic's Liberant system, which has already been commercialized, focuses on real-time adjustments to suction frequency to minimize blood loss during procedures [22][23][26] - Both systems share ultrasound technology but differ in their approaches, with SonoVascular emphasizing microbubble-mediated effects and Medtronic focusing on intelligent suction control [26][27]

Core Insights - Nina Goodheart, the Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic's Structural Heart and Aortic business, announced her retirement after nearly 20 years with the company, marking the end of a significant career [1][3] Group 1: Leadership Background - Nina Goodheart joined Medtronic in 2007, initially focusing on the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure (CRDM) market, and later held various key management positions [3] - Over the past five years, she led the Structural Heart and Aortic business, witnessing its evolution from a single product competition to a platform-based approach with expanded indications and long-term follow-up [3][5] Group 2: Business Progress During Tenure - Under her leadership, the core focus of Medtronic's Structural Heart business was clear, emphasizing the following: 1. Continuous advancement of the transcatheter aortic valve platform 2. Differentiated layout for transcatheter pulmonary valves 3. Promotion of clinical research and conceptual development [6] - The Evolut series of transcatheter aortic valve systems has seen ongoing iterations, maintaining a leading position in the global TAVR competition, while the Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve system targets a niche market with high technical barriers [7] Group 3: Conclusion and Industry Implications - Goodheart's retirement is viewed as a normal conclusion of an executive career cycle rather than a sign of business pressure or strategic shifts [9] - The news holds value for industry stakeholders interested in how global leaders in the mature structural heart business achieve long-term stable operations [9]

Core Viewpoint - Medtronic plans to exercise its acquisition option for CathWorks, a private company specializing in coronary physiological assessment technology, with a total consideration of up to $585 million (approximately 4.1 billion RMB) [2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition is expected to be completed before the end of Medtronic's fiscal year 2026, pending review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) [2] - This move follows a strategic partnership established in 2022 between Medtronic and CathWorks to promote the FFRangio system in the U.S., Europe, and Japan [3] Group 2: Technology and Product Path - The acquisition signifies Medtronic's commitment to the coronary physiological assessment technology route [4] - CathWorks' FFRangio system generates FFR value distribution across the entire coronary tree based on standard coronary angiography images, utilizing AI and computational fluid dynamics without the need for pressure wires or drug stimulation [9] Group 3: Decision Support Capabilities - FFRangio has evolved beyond a diagnostic tool to become a real-time decision support layer in interventional procedures, aligning with Medtronic's focus on data-driven and integrated processes in interventional fields [11][13] - The technology provides real-time data to support personalized treatment strategies and has the potential to reshape the workflow in catheterization labs [16] Group 4: Strategic Implications - The acquisition indicates a shift in the competitive focus of coronary interventions from "device itself" to "decision efficiency" [17] - The integration of imaging, AI, and physiological assessment is moving towards a unified platform, enhancing the value of tools embedded in the complete interventional process [17] - Large platform companies prefer to accelerate the acquisition of key capabilities through mergers rather than internal development [18] Group 5: Financial Impact - The acquisition is expected to have a negligible impact on Medtronic's GAAP and adjusted EPS for fiscal year 2027, with potential neutral to positive contributions in the medium to long term [19] - Prior to the completion of the transaction, Medtronic and CathWorks will continue to operate independently, allowing for further integration of products, channels, and teams [20] Group 6: Industry Trends - The acquisition reflects a trend in mature interventional fields where innovation is shifting towards reducing hesitation and increasing certainty in decision-making [21] - Companies that can simplify complex judgments and seamlessly integrate into physicians' daily workflows are likely to gain a competitive advantage in the next phase [22] - CathWorks provides Medtronic with a ready-made solution to address these challenges [23]

Core Viewpoint - AbbVie and Medtronic are highlighted as healthcare stocks that consistently grow their dividends, supported by healthy free cash flow, despite the general trend of lower dividend yields in the healthcare sector [1][3][15]. AbbVie - AbbVie has a dividend yield of 2.98% and has increased its quarterly dividend for 54 consecutive years, qualifying it as a Dividend King [4]. - The company reported revenue of $15.8 billion in the third quarter, a 9% year-over-year increase, although earnings per share (EPS) declined by 38% to $1.86 due to higher R&D spending [6]. - AbbVie has successfully transitioned from reliance on Humira, which previously accounted for 63% of its revenue, to a diversified portfolio including Rinvoq and Skyrizi, with Skyrizi generating $4.7 billion in the latest quarter [7]. - The oncology segment now contributes nearly 11% to AbbVie's revenue, bolstered by new therapies [8]. - AbbVie's dividend payout ratio is 58%, but its free cash flow per share of $11.11 supports its annual dividend payout of $6.92 [9]. Medtronic - Medtronic, with a market cap of $132 billion, is the largest stand-alone medical device maker, producing a wide range of medical equipment [10]. - The company reported revenue of $9 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, a 6.6% year-over-year increase, with EPS rising 8% to $1.07 [13]. - Medtronic's dividend yield is approximately 2.76%, and it has increased its dividend for 48 consecutive years, with a payout ratio of 69% [14]. - The company plans to spin off its diabetes business, which accounts for only 8% of revenue, without impacting its dividend [14]. Industry Insights - Healthcare companies, unlike utilities, must continuously invest in R&D due to the nature of their products, which often face patent expirations and generic competition [2]. - AbbVie and Medtronic leverage their size and diversification to maintain revenue growth and dividend increases, mitigating risks from potential downturns in specific segments [15][16].

Core Viewpoint - Medtronic is acquiring CathWorks for up to $585 million to enhance its heart devices portfolio with a new diagnostic tool [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The deal is valued at up to $585 million, indicating a significant investment by Medtronic in expanding its capabilities in the heart device market [1] - CathWorks is a privately held company, suggesting that this acquisition may provide Medtronic with innovative technologies that are not yet widely available in the market [1] Group 2: Strategic Implications - This acquisition aligns with Medtronic's strategy to bolster its offerings in the cardiovascular sector, which is a critical area of growth for the company [1] - The addition of CathWorks' diagnostic tool could potentially improve patient outcomes and enhance the overall effectiveness of heart disease management [1]

GALWAY, Ireland, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced it will exercise its option to acquire CathWorks, a privately held medical device company, which aims to transform how coronary artery disease (CAD) is diagnosed and treated. The intent to acquire CathWorks follows a 2022 strategic partnership with a co-promotion agreement for the CathWorks FFRangio® System in the U.S., Europe and Japan, where it is commercially available. The ac ...

Core Insights - Medtronic plc (MDT) has a market capitalization of approximately $132 billion and operates in various medical technology sectors, including cardiovascular, neuroscience, medical-surgical, and diabetes care, providing device-based therapies globally [1] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, MDT shares have increased by 13.5%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 15.2%. However, on a year-to-date basis, MDT has outperformed the S&P 500, returning 7.3% compared to the index's 1.6% rise [2] - MDT shares have also outperformed the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), which returned 6.1% over the same period [3] Financial Performance - On November 18, 2025, MDT reported strong Q2 2026 results, with adjusted EPS of $1.36 and revenue of $8.96 billion, surpassing forecasts. The company experienced a 6.6% revenue growth, with a notable 71% growth in Cardiac Ablation Solutions, marking the strongest cardiovascular revenue growth in over a decade, excluding pandemic effects [5] - For the fiscal year ending in April 2026, analysts project MDT's adjusted EPS to grow by 2.7% year-over-year to $5.64. The company has consistently exceeded consensus estimates in the last four quarters [6] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 27 analysts covering MDT, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 11 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and 15 "Holds" [6] - Evercore ISI raised its price target for MDT to $115 while maintaining an "Outperform" rating. The mean price target of $110.50 indicates a 7.5% premium to current price levels, while the highest price target of $125 suggests a potential upside of 21.6% [8]

Core Insights - Medtronic announced three significant milestones in the U.S. aimed at expanding access and flexibility for individuals with type 1 and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes, including Medicare access for the MiniMed™ 780G system with the Instinct sensor, FDA clearance for its use with ultra rapid-acting insulins, and clearance for use with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes [1][2][6]. Group 1: Medicare Access - Medicare beneficiaries can now access the MiniMed™ 780G system paired with the Instinct sensor, which is small, thin, and can be worn discreetly for up to 15 days [3][5]. - This milestone enhances sensor choice for Medicare users, who also have access to the Simplera Sync™ and Guardian™ 4 sensors [3]. Group 2: FDA Clearances - The FDA has cleared the MiniMed™ 780G system for use with ultra rapid-acting insulins, such as Fiasp and Lyumjev, providing more flexibility and personalization in diabetes therapy [6]. - The system's Meal Detection™ technology allows for better management of mealtime insulin delivery, accommodating missed or delayed doses [6]. Group 3: Benefits of the MiniMed™ 780G System - The MiniMed™ 780G system automates insulin delivery every five minutes, which helps maintain stable glucose control and reduces the burden of daily decision-making for users [4][9]. - The integration of the Instinct sensor with the MiniMed™ 780G system is expected to improve the daily management experience for individuals with type 2 diabetes [10].