Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has achieved a significant milestone with SCOUT® Radar Localization being used in 750,000 patients globally, enhancing breast cancer treatment outcomes [1][3][6] Company Overview - Merit Medical, founded in 1987, specializes in the development, manufacture, and distribution of proprietary medical devices for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures across various medical fields including cardiology, radiology, oncology, critical care, and endoscopy [8] Product Details - SCOUT® Radar Localization is a wire-free, non-radioactive localization technology that allows for precise surgical removal of abnormal breast tissue, minimizing trauma to surrounding healthy tissue [3][4] - The system utilizes a tiny reflector, about the size of a grain of rice, enabling targeting accuracy within +/- 1 mm, which contributes to more successful surgeries and improved patient care [3] - SCOUT supports various treatment needs, including placement in breast tissue and lymph nodes, and can be utilized pre- or post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy, at the time of biopsy, and for bracketing techniques [4] - The introduction of SCOUT MD™ enhances the localization system with four reflector shapes and distinct radar signals for improved tumor margin mapping and localization of multiple lesions or nodes [5] Market Impact - SCOUT has been referenced in over 100 clinical publications, with nearly 8,500 patients noted, and is utilized in 50 countries, performing more than 500 cases daily, totaling 10,000 cases monthly [6] - Over 1,100 facilities worldwide prefer SCOUT for wire-free localization, indicating strong market adoption and trust in the technology [6] Leadership Perspective - The CEO of Merit Medical expressed pride in the positive impact of SCOUT on patients' lives, emphasizing the company's commitment to supporting individuals with breast cancer beyond just Breast Cancer Awareness Month [7]

Core Insights - Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund reported a return of 9.37% for Q2 2025, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index which returned 11.97% due to security selection issues in the information technology and financial sectors [1] Company Overview - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) is a manufacturer of single-use medical products, focusing on interventional cardiology and radiology [2][3] - As of September 29, 2025, Merit Medical's stock closed at $80.86 per share, with a market capitalization of $4.788 billion [2] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Merit Medical reported revenues of $382.5 million, reflecting a 13% year-over-year increase on a GAAP basis and a 12.5% increase on a constant currency basis [4] Market Position - Merit Medical is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 26 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q2 2025, an increase from 24 in the previous quarter [4] - The company faces challenges due to tariff and trade policy concerns, as approximately 40% of its revenues are generated outside the US [3]

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems (MMSI) has received CE Mark approval for its Embosphere Microspheres, allowing for genicular artery embolisation (GAE) to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA), providing a minimally invasive treatment option for a common and debilitating condition [1][4][10] Company Summary - The CE Mark approval validates Merit Medical's Embosphere technology, which has shown consistent clinical outcomes across various therapeutic areas, reinforcing the company's leadership in minimally invasive therapies [2][4] - Following the announcement, MMSI's stock experienced a decline of 5.2% at market close, with a year-to-date loss of 11.6%, contrasting with the industry's 1.8% decline and the S&P 500's gain of 12.8% [3] - The approval expands the addressable market for MMSI, tapping into a large and underserved patient population, which is expected to create durable revenue opportunities and enhance the company's competitive edge in pain management [4][9] Product Insights - The Embosphere Microspheres have been clinically proven to provide over 75% of patients with meaningful pain reduction and improved function for up to 24 months, outperforming corticosteroid injections in terms of consistency and duration of benefits [10][11] - The technology has over 25 years of clinical use and is supported by more than 130 pivotal studies, establishing its reliability in procedures involving small arteries [11] Industry Outlook - The global osteoarthritis therapeutics market is projected to grow from an estimated $9.13 billion in 2024 to $13.57 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.89% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the increasing prevalence of OA and significant R&D investments [12]

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. announced that Embosphere Microspheres are now indicated in the EU for genicular artery embolisation (GAE) to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA) [1][4] Group 1: Company Overview - Merit Medical is a global leader in healthcare technology, founded in 1987, focusing on the development, manufacture, and distribution of proprietary disposable medical devices [8] - The company employs approximately 7,300 people worldwide and serves client hospitals with a sales force and clinical support team of over 800 individuals [8] Group 2: Product and Treatment Insights - Embosphere Microspheres have been proven effective in treating knee OA, with over 75% of patients achieving clinical success and significant pain reduction sustained through 24 months [4][6] - GAE selectively reduces blood flow to the inflamed synovium, leading to meaningful reductions in knee pain and improved joint function, representing a growing trend in minimally invasive pain management therapies [3][4] Group 3: Market Context - Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting approximately 595 million people globally, with knee OA being the most frequently affected joint [2] - The prevalence of OA is expected to increase due to aging populations, rising injury rates, and obesity [2] Group 4: Competitive Advantage - Embosphere's proprietary formulation and spherical shape provide complete and durable occlusion of targeted blood vessels, offering consistent and reliable performance, especially in treating small genicular arteries [5][6] - Compared to corticosteroid injections, GAE with Embosphere has shown consistently higher clinical success rates and greater improvements in pain and quality of life at three months [4]

Core Viewpoint - The last six months have been more challenging for Merit Medical than expected, with tariffs acting as a volatile but net-negative earnings driver [1] Group 1 - Merit Medical has faced unexpected challenges in the past six months [1] - Tariffs have contributed to earnings volatility, negatively impacting the company's financial performance [1]

Core Insights - The Cooper Companies (COO) is currently more attractive to value investors compared to Merit Medical (MMSI) based on various financial metrics and rankings [1][3][7] Valuation Metrics - COO has a forward P/E ratio of 18.10, while MMSI has a forward P/E of 24.27, indicating that COO is potentially undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for COO is 1.79, compared to MMSI's PEG ratio of 2.39, suggesting that COO has a better balance between price and expected earnings growth [5] - COO's P/B ratio is 1.77, significantly lower than MMSI's P/B of 3.51, further supporting the argument that COO is more attractively valued [6] Rankings and Grades - COO holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), while MMSI has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stronger earnings outlook for COO [3] - The Value grade for COO is B, whereas MMSI has a Value grade of C, reflecting the superior valuation metrics of COO [6]

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has successfully enrolled the first patient in the WRAP North America registry, aimed at evaluating the WRAPSODY Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis (CIE) for patients on hemodialysis experiencing vascular access obstructions [1][2][5] Group 1: WRAP North America Registry - The WRAP North America registry is designed to enroll up to 250 patients in the US and Canada who are on hemodialysis and face obstructions in their vascular access [2][4] - The study will evaluate clinical outcomes over a three-year period for patients treated with the WRAPSODY CIE [2][4] - The first patient was enrolled by Dr. Omar Davis, highlighting the importance of this registry in assessing the device's effectiveness [2][3] Group 2: WRAPSODY CIE Device - The WRAPSODY CIE has shown superior performance in previous clinical trials, specifically the WRAPSODY Arteriovenous Access Efficacy (WAVE) pivotal trial [3][4] - The WAVE trial compared outcomes of patients treated with WRAPSODY CIE versus those treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) [3] - The WRAPSODY CIE received premarket approval from the FDA on December 19, 2024, and was subsequently approved by Health Canada on April 30, 2025 [7] Group 3: Future Prospects - The WRAP North America registry aims to contribute to a growing portfolio of clinical evidence supporting the WRAPSODY CIE, potentially representing the largest cohort of patients treated with an implantable device for vascular access restoration [4][5] - A parallel WRAP Global registry is also being conducted to evaluate real-world outcomes, with an expected final enrollment of up to 500 patients outside North America by the end of 2025 [5][6]

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has successfully enrolled the first patient in the WRAP North America registry, aimed at evaluating the WRAPSODY Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis (CIE) for patients on hemodialysis [1][5][8] Group 1: WRAP North America Registry - The WRAP North America registry is designed to enroll up to 250 patients in the US and Canada who are on hemodialysis and experience vascular access obstructions [2][4] - The registry will evaluate clinical outcomes over three years for patients treated with the WRAPSODY CIE [2][4] - The first patient was enrolled by Dr. Omar Davis at Bluff City Vascular, marking a significant milestone for the company [2][5] Group 2: WRAPSODY CIE Device - The WRAPSODY CIE aims to restore vascular access for hemodialysis patients facing obstructions, with promising results demonstrated in the previous WAVE pivotal trial [3][4] - The WAVE trial compared the WRAPSODY CIE with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and historical outcomes of patients treated with previous-generation covered stents [3] - The device received premarket approval from the FDA on December 19, 2024, and was approved by Health Canada on April 30, 2025 [7] Group 3: Clinical Evidence and Future Prospects - The WRAP North America registry is expected to contribute to a growing portfolio of clinical evidence supporting the WRAPSODY CIE [4] - A parallel WRAP Global registry is also being conducted to enroll up to 500 patients outside North America, with final enrollment expected by the end of 2025 [5] - The company emphasizes the importance of real-world effectiveness data to address critical questions regarding the device's broader impact in clinical practice [4][5]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools to enhance investor confidence and market engagement through daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2][3] - Stocks are rated A, B, C, D, or F, with A being the highest score indicating a better chance of outperforming [3] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score identifies stocks with upward or downward trends based on price changes and earnings estimates, aiding in timing purchases of high-momentum stocks [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores, serving as a comprehensive indicator alongside the Zacks Rank [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to help investors build successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making selection challenging for investors [8] Stock Selection Strategy - Investors should prioritize stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B to maximize potential success [9][10] Company Spotlight: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI) - Merit Medical, based in South Jordan, UT, specializes in peripheral and cardiac intervention products [11] - MMSI holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A and a Momentum Style Score of B, having increased by 2.6% over the past four weeks [11] - Six analysts have raised their earnings estimates for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.25 to $3.60 per share, and an average earnings surprise of +12.9% [12]

Core Insights - Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has launched the Prelude Wave™ Hydrophilic Sheath Introducer with SnapFix™ Securement Technology, aimed at enhancing radial access procedures and potentially reducing arterial spasm and occlusion [1][2] Product Features - The Prelude Wave is part of Merit's Access portfolio, featuring a low-profile, hydrophilic design that offers best-in-class insertion and sheath retention [2] - The sheath is designed to reduce risks associated with radial artery spasm, which occurs in up to 20% of patients, and occlusion, which affects approximately 4.6% of patients [3][4] - The Prelude Wave provides twice the lubricity, resistance to buckling and kinking, and requires 40% less insertion force compared to leading competitors [6] Clinical Impact - The introduction of SnapFix technology offers twice the adhesive strength, enhancing the performance and ease of use for physicians [6] - The securement devices used for stabilizing hydrophilic sheaths have been linked to procedural inefficiencies in 30% of cases, indicating a significant need for improved solutions [5] Strategic Positioning - Merit Medical aims to support a radial-first approach by complementing existing products and addressing clinical challenges, as demonstrated by its acquisition of StatSeal®, a hemostatic sealant for radial procedures [8] - The company emphasizes its commitment to innovation in its Access portfolio, providing healthcare partners with data-driven treatment solutions [9]