David Larsen

Here we have it: the largest deal of 2017. CVS Health Corp (NYSE: CVS) confirmed Monday its agreement to acquire Aetna Inc (NYSE: AET) as a standalone business unit for about $207 per share. The parties intend to close the deal in the second half of 2018 to yield $750 million in near-term synergies...

Last week, Leerink analyst David Larsen said that it’s only a matter of time before Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) takes the plunge into the pharmacy business and that Amazon could be selling prescription drugs within two years’ time. On Monday, Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes said...

Pharmacy and health care investors should brace themselves — Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) is coming. In a pair of new research notes out this week, analysts at Leerink said it’s not a matter of if Amazon will make a move into the prescription drug business, it’s a matter of...

Leerink said in a note on Thursday it remains incrementally more cautious on the shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ: WBA) following the release of its quarterly results and after analyzing the new Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) deal. Following a year-and-a-half dilly-dallying since...

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has become known as the everything store. That's why it's no surprise recent reports have stated the company is interested to get into the pharmacy space. The e-commerce giant is reportedly hiring a business manager to figure out how it can possibly break...

Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: ESRX)'s earnings report was dominated by a concerning disclosure that it expects lose its largest customer, Anthem Inc (NYSE: ANTM). Anthem alleged that it is being overcharged by billions of dollars and is not expected to renew the contract, which expires...

Leerink sees the odds of the Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ: WBA)-Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) deal going through as 50/50. Walgreens negotiated a revised agreement on January 30 to acquire Rite Aid for $6.50 to $7 per share, depending on the number of Rite Aid store divestitures. The...

Leerink is encouraged with comments from Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: ESRX) that it's not too concerned about a Donald Trump presidency and potential repeal of ACA. CEO Tim Wentworth said in a guidance call it's "still too early to say" but he hasn't "seen...

A handful of companies issued financial guidance this week to their respective investment communities. United Technologies United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX) said it expects to earn $6.30 to $6.60 per share in fiscal 2017 on revenue of $57.5 billion to $59 billion. This compares to Wall...

After Fitbit Inc (NYSE: FIT)'s not-so-disappointing Q3 report but lowered guidance for Q4 and beyond, the market reacted. Shares were trading down nearly 30 percent mid-day Thursday with little or no bounce back after hitting $9 per share. Morgan Stanley Research: Downgraded to Equal Weight...

The 30 percent decline in Fitbit Inc (NYSE: FIT)'s stock following its third-quarter earnings report is raising the question: Are consumers bored with activity trackers? David Larsen of Leerink believes this may be the case. In a research report on Thursday, the analyst maintained a Market Perform...

Leerink analyst David Larsen upgraded Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc (NASDAQ: MDRX) shares from Market Perform to Outperform. The brokerage also boosted its price objective from $16 to $17. Rating Justification The lead analyst believes the company's core fundamentals were showing improvements...

Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: ESRX) announced that George Paz will retire as CEO mid-next year and will be replaced by Tim Wentworth. Shares of Express Scripts were relatively flat heading into Thursday's afternoon trading session. Analysts at Leerink and Mizuho agree the CEO transition...