The latest Market Talks covering the Health Care sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
1028 ET - The latest developments in Bayer's litigation saga over its Roundup weedkiller support a potential resolution, analysts at UBS say in a research note. The German agricultural and pharmaceutical group has received preliminary approval for its proposed settlement, which is positive, UBS says. An agreement would remove potential risk for the shares and provide closure on the litigation, the analysts say. Some investors are worried about a motion filed in a Missouri court, but even in a worst-case scenario Bayer's shares can't fall much more from current levels, the analysts say. UBS raises its recommendation on Bayer to buy from neutral, lifting its target price to 52 euros from 48 euros. Shares rise 3.9% to 40.15 euros. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
0723 ET - GN Store Nord's sale of its hearing aid business to Amplifon will bolster the Danish company's liquidity, RBC Capital Markets' Jack Reynolds-Clark writes. The 2.3 billion-euros sale will "shift the company to a strong net cash position," the analyst says. However, the sale means the group is shorn of its most profitable division, raising the danger that it falls short of its revenue growth forecasts. "We expect the streamlined entity to trade at a discount to its previous level," Reynolds-Clark adds. Shares in GN surge close to 35% to a five-month high. Amplifon slides 7.85%. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
0719 ET - Amplifon's acquisition of Danish group GN Store Nord's hearing-aid business will substantially increase the company's debt pile and weigh on its stock price, RBC Capital Markets analyst Jack Reynolds-Clark writes. "We expect the upcoming equity raise to weigh on near-term valuation," he says. The 2.3-billion-euro deal will also carry significant execution risk for Milan-listed Amplifon, Reynolds-Clark says. However, the deal will make Amplifon more able to compete with Sonova and Demant, while denying the two hearing-aid makers a customer as Amplifon brings supplies in-house. Amplifon shares tumble 9%, while GN soars 36%, Sonova falls 3% and Demant slides 4%.(josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
0305 ET - Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) may benefit from potential completion of mergers and acquisitions, CGS International's Tay Wee Kuang says in a research report. On March 11, it unveiled a memorandum of understanding to acquire an Australian dental group for a consideration to be fulfilled on part-cash and part-shares basis, the analyst notes. By applying similar transaction details to the dental healthcare group's Thailand MOU and Singapore MOU announced on Oct. 15, 2025, and March 4, 2026, respectively, the brokerage estimates completion of the three M&As to boost 2027 EPS by 126.7%. CGS International raises the stock's target price to S$0.68 from S$0.49 with an unchanged add rating. Shares are 1.8% lower at S$0.545. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 16, 2026 12:20 ET (16:20 GMT)
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