Investors with an interest in Medical - Dental Supplies stocks have likely encountered both The Cooper Companies (COO) and Merit Medical (MMSI) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and ou ...

Summary of Merit Medical Systems FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Merit Medical Systems (NasdaqGS: MMSI) - **Industry**: Medical Device Industry - **Key Executives**: CEO Martha Aronson, CFO Raul Parra Core Points and Arguments 1. **Leadership Transition**: Martha Aronson has recently joined Merit Medical, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the medical device industry, including roles at Medtronic, Hillrom, and Ecolab [2][5][6] 2. **Growth Strategy**: Merit Medical aims to continue its growth through both organic investments and acquisitions, with ongoing initiatives planned through the end of 2026 [5][10] 3. **Executive Leadership Team**: A new executive leadership team has been formed to focus on strategic planning for growth beyond 2026 [6][10] 4. **Financial Guidance**: Merit Medical is confident in achieving its Continuous Growth Initiatives (CGI) goals, which include a revenue CAGR of 5%-7% and operating margins of 20%-22% [15][18] 5. **Wrapsody Product Launch**: The recent launch of Wrapsody is progressing well, with adjustments made to pricing strategies to enhance market penetration [25][27][29] 6. **Market Dynamics**: The company is navigating challenges in the China market, with volume growth remaining strong despite a decrease in sales percentage due to volume-based purchasing [56][57] 7. **OEM Business Performance**: The OEM segment is expected to grow in the mid to high single digits, with current performance aligning with expectations [63] 8. **M&A Strategy**: The M&A strategy will evolve to be more intentional, focusing on strategic fits that enhance the offerings for existing physician groups [64][66] Additional Important Insights 1. **Founder Involvement**: Fred Lampropoulos, the founder, will transition to a non-executive chairman role but will remain available for consultation and to leverage his network [12][13] 2. **Wrapsody's Impact on Renal Portfolio**: The Wrapsody product is expected to positively influence the renal therapy portfolio, enhancing sales force engagement with physicians [50][51] 3. **Clinical Data and Pipeline**: Future developments related to Wrapsody will depend on new clinical data and trials, with the company committed to maintaining confidentiality until solid information is available [36][38] 4. **Market Sentiment**: There is a perception that the market may not fully appreciate Merit Medical's consistent performance and growth potential, particularly in light of recent tariff impacts [15][16] 5. **Competitive Landscape**: The company is aware of competitive pressures and is adjusting its strategies accordingly, particularly in pricing and product offerings [29][30] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, highlighting Merit Medical's strategic direction, market challenges, and growth initiatives.

Core Viewpoint - Investors in the Medical - Dental Supplies sector should consider Conmed (CNMD) and Merit Medical (MMSI) as potential value opportunities, with CNMD appearing to be the superior option based on valuation metrics [1]. Valuation Metrics - Both CNMD and MMSI currently hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions for both companies [3]. - CNMD has a forward P/E ratio of 9.52, while MMSI has a forward P/E of 23.65, suggesting that CNMD is more attractively priced [5]. - The PEG ratio for CNMD is 1.41, compared to MMSI's PEG ratio of 2.46, indicating that CNMD offers better value relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - CNMD's P/B ratio is 1.31, while MMSI's P/B ratio is 3.38, further supporting the conclusion that CNMD is undervalued compared to MMSI [6]. - Based on these valuation metrics, CNMD holds a Value grade of A, whereas MMSI has a Value grade of C, reinforcing the view that CNMD is the superior value option [6].

Core Viewpoint - Merit Medical (MMSI) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system focuses on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for Merit Medical indicate an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to an increase in stock price [5][10]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7][9]. - Only the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for Merit Medical - Merit Medical is expected to earn $3.69 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with no year-over-year change, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 0.1% over the past three months [8].

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI) is identified as a quality business with strong organic growth and positive clinical trial results, indicating potential investment opportunities [1]. Group 1: Company Performance - MMSI has demonstrated robust organic growth, which is a positive indicator for its future performance [1]. - The company has achieved favorable outcomes in clinical trials, further enhancing its investment appeal [1]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - The service "Value in Corporate Events" focuses on major corporate events such as earnings reports, M&A, and IPOs, providing actionable investment ideas [1]. - The investment group covers approximately 10 major events monthly, aiming to identify the best opportunities for investors [1].

Core Viewpoint - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. announced that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has deferred its application for Transitional Pass-Through incremental payment for the WRAPSODY Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis, with the earliest effective date now set for January 1, 2027 [1][2] Group 1: Company Strategy and Market Position - The company plans to withdraw its application for TPT incremental payment and will immediately begin full commercialization of the WRAPSODY CIE in the U.S. [2] - A new commercial strategy is being enacted to increase patient access and optimize the adoption and utilization of the WRAPSODY CIE, which is expected to improve patient outcomes and generate strong revenue growth [2] - The WRAPSODY CIE aims to restore vascular access for hemodialysis patients, with strong clinical evidence supporting its efficacy [2] Group 2: Financial Forecast - For the full year 2025, Merit forecasts U.S. revenue from WRAPSODY CIE sales to be in the range of $2 million to $4 million [2] Group 3: Regulatory Approvals - The WRAPSODY CIE received premarket approval from the U.S. FDA on December 19, 2024, and was approved by Health Canada on April 30, 2025 [3] - The device has also received the CE Mark for commercial use in the European Union and is available in Brazil [3] Group 4: Clinical Evaluation - Real-world clinical outcomes of the WRAPSODY CIE are being evaluated in the WRAP North America Registry, which aims to enroll up to 250 patients [5]

Core Insights - Investors in the Medical - Dental Supplies sector may consider Conmed (CNMD) and Merit Medical (MMSI) as potential value stocks [1] - A strong Zacks Rank combined with a good Value grade is identified as an effective strategy for finding value stocks [2] - Both CNMD and MMSI currently hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions [3] Valuation Metrics - CNMD has a forward P/E ratio of 9.88, while MMSI has a forward P/E of 23.47, suggesting CNMD may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for CNMD is 1.50, compared to MMSI's PEG ratio of 2.39, indicating CNMD's better valuation relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - CNMD's P/B ratio is 1.36, while MMSI's P/B ratio is 3.35, further supporting CNMD's position as a more attractive value option [6] Conclusion - Based on the valuation metrics, CNMD is considered the superior value option compared to MMSI [7]

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. announced positive results from the randomized AVF arm of the WAVE trial, showcasing the effectiveness of the WRAPSODY CIE device in restoring vascular access for hemodialysis patients [1][4]. Company Overview - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. is a leader in healthcare technology, focusing on the development, manufacture, and distribution of proprietary medical devices for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures [13]. - The company employs approximately 7,400 people globally and serves hospitals worldwide with a dedicated sales force and clinical support team [13]. Product and Trial Details - The WRAPSODY CIE is designed to restore vascular access in patients undergoing hemodialysis who face obstructions in their veins [2][6]. - The WAVE trial involved 245 hemodialysis patients treated with either the WRAPSODY CIE or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) across 43 centers in the U.S., South America, and the U.K. [3][4]. - Results showed that 24 months post-treatment, the target lesion primary patency (TLPP) was significantly higher for the WRAPSODY CIE group at 48.6% compared to 29.8% for PTA (p<0.0001), and access circuit primary patency (ACPP) was also higher at 31.3% versus 20.6% (p=0.003) [4][9]. Regulatory Approvals - The WRAPSODY CIE received premarket approval from the U.S. FDA on December 19, 2024, and was subsequently approved by Health Canada on April 30, 2025 [6]. - The device has also received the Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark for commercial use in the European Union and is available in Brazil [6]. Ongoing Research and Registries - Real-world clinical outcomes of the WRAPSODY CIE are being evaluated in the WRAP North America Registry, which aims to enroll up to 250 patients [8]. - The WRAP Global registry is also assessing real-world outcomes outside of North America [8]. - Data from the WAVE trial and these registries will provide evidence on the largest cohort of patients for a single indication in dialysis access to date [10].

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. announced 24-month efficacy findings from the non-randomized AVG cohort of the WAVE trial, showcasing the performance of the WRAPSODY® Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis (CIE) for patients with advanced kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis [1][5][6] Group 1: Trial Overview - The WAVE trial aimed to evaluate the performance of the WRAPSODY CIE in restoring functional vascular access in patients with complications such as stenosis or occlusion [3] - The trial involved 43 centers across the United States, South America, and the United Kingdom [3] Group 2: Efficacy Results - In the non-randomized arm of the WAVE trial, 112 patients were treated with the WRAPSODY CIE, achieving a target lesion primary patency (TLPP) of 81.4% at 6 months, exceeding the established performance goal of 60% [4] - The TLPP at 12 months was 60.2%, and at 24 months, it was 41.7% [4][10] - The access circuit primary patency (ACPP) at 12 months was 36.2%, and at 24 months, it was 25.7% [4][10] Group 3: Regulatory Approvals - The WRAPSODY CIE received premarket approval from the US FDA on December 19, 2024, and was approved by Health Canada on April 30, 2025 [6] - The device has also received the Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark for commercial use in the European Union and is available in Brazil [6] Group 4: Future Research - Real-world clinical outcomes of the WRAPSODY CIE are being evaluated in the WRAP North America Registry, which aims to enroll up to 250 patients [8]

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