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Does the S&P 500 Rally Make MDT Stock a Buy Amid Easing Trade Tension?
ZACKSยท 2025-03-25 17:35
Core Viewpoint - The broader market rally, driven by tech giants like NVIDIA and Tesla, has created a favorable environment for stocks like Medtronic (MDT) to potentially gain momentum [1] Company Performance - Medtronic's stock has been sluggish, declining by 0.8% over the past couple of months, reflecting broader industry challenges such as aggressive tariff policies, trade tensions, and inflationary pressures [2] - Other major MedTech players, including Boston Scientific (BSX) and Abbott (ABT), also showed muted performance, with Boston Scientific increasing by 0.3% and Abbott decreasing by 0.6% during the same period [2] - The broader industry and the S&P 500 index experienced declines of 2.6% and 5%, respectively, during this timeframe [2] Technical Analysis - MDT stock is currently trading below its 14-day and 50-day moving averages, indicating a bearish trend that may deter momentum-driven investors and lead to short-term volatility [5] Market Conditions - The trade war and inflationary concerns have negatively impacted the MedTech sector, particularly for companies with significant global operations like Medtronic [9] - However, recent gains in NVIDIA (over 3%) and Tesla (nearly 12%) have shifted investor sentiment, easing worries about economic disruptions and inflationary pressures affecting Medtronic [9] Long-Term Prospects - Medtronic is strategically expanding its global presence to meet the demand for advanced medical devices, particularly gaining market share in the Cardiovascular segment through product launches [10] - The Hypertension business is poised for major expansion, with Medicare coverage expected for the Symplicity blood pressure procedure within the next eight months [11] - Despite distributor disruptions, Medtronic is scaling production of Hugo RAS, and its Neuroscience portfolios continue to contribute positively [12] - The company anticipates revenue and EPS growth to accelerate in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by a diversified innovation pipeline and operational leverage [13] Valuation - MDT stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 15.56X, which is lower than the industry average of 21.78X, and is attractively valued compared to peers like BSX (34.97X) and ABT (24.09X) [14] Investment Outlook - Medtronic remains a promising player in the MedTech space, supported by an aggressive expansion strategy and strong fundamentals, offering an attractive entry point for investors [16] - However, macroeconomic issues such as trade tensions and inflation may limit near-term gains [17]