Tesla's Cybertruck Sets Internet Abuzz (Again) As Musk Reveals Features On Twitter (Tue, 25 Feb 2020)
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How the IRS Knows If You Cheat on Your Taxes (Mon, 24 Feb 2020)
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Gilead Surges After WHO Comments on Virus Drug Testing (Mon, 24 Feb 2020)
(Bloomberg) -- Gilead Sciences Inc. shares gained Monday after a senior World Health Organization official said the company’s experimental drug may be the best bet to find a treatment for the new coronavirus spreading around the globe.Gilead’s compound, remdesivir, has been rushed into a clinical trial in China, where the illness has infected tens of thousands of people. WHO officials have said results could be available within weeks.Remdesivir is the “one drug right now that we think may have efficacy,” Bruce Aylward, an assistant director-general at the World Health Organization, said at a briefing in Beijing. WHO officials and international scientists are in the country assessing the outbreak.Gilead shares rose 4.6% to $72.90 on Monday, the highest closing level since October 2018. Spokeswoman Sonia Choi said Gilead is anticipating results from two trials in China in April.A leap in Gilead shares this month has added more than $12 billion to the company’s market value, a figure that far outstrips the sales gains the company is likely to reap from the drug, according to some projections.Analysts at Bank of America expect remdesivir to result in one-time revenue of about $2.5 billion, at most. Analyst Geoff Meacham said “remdesivir offers little lasting, meaningful” upside to Gilead’s bottom line given the economics of addressing epidemics or pandemics.Outbreaks of new or rare infectious diseases can prompt a rush of efforts to find effective therapies, with trials often conducted in sometimes-chaotic field conditions. But not all work -- many of the drugs tested against Ebola during outbreaks over the past decade failed, despite initial hopes they could save some patients from that deadly virus.(Updates with closing stock-price information in fourth paragraph. An earlier version of this article corrected that remdesivir is not a vaccince candidate in the fifth paragraph.)To contact the reporters on this story: Drew Armstrong in New York at darmstrong17@bloomberg.net;Bailey Lipschultz in New York at blipschultz@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Drew Armstrong at darmstrong17@bloomberg.net, Timothy AnnettFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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J.P. Morgan: 2 “Strong Buy” Healthcare Stocks With Over 50% Upside (Mon, 24 Feb 2020)
Digitization of the world we live in has disrupted the healthcare industry, giving rise to the healthcare information technology (IT) segment of the market. The emergence of this space and the technology it offers has transformed the way healthcare providers and organizations care for patients. Not to mention efficiency has improved dramatically. Demand for these digital solutions isn’t expected to slow anytime soon, with Grand View Research predicting that the digital healthcare market will expand at a CAGR of 27%, reaching $509.2 billion by 2025.Bearing this in mind, investing firm J.P. Morgan took a look at several healthcare IT names ahead of their upcoming fourth quarter earnings releases.“Sentiment on the group has been largely favorable, with the group up 12% since Q3 earnings in November vs the remaining Healthcare Technology & Distribution group up 14% and the SPX 8%-plus,” analyst Anne Samuel commented.In the report, the firm highlights two tickers in particular that it believes can not only deliver solid prints, but also reward investors through 2020 and beyond. After using TipRanks’ Stock Screener tool, we found out each boasts a “Strong Buy” consensus rating from the Street, and has a substantial upside potential from the current share price. We’re talking more than 50% here.Health Catalyst Inc. (HCAT)With its cloud-based data platform, Health Catalyst offers data and analytics solutions to healthcare organizations. As the company gears up for its February 27 earnings release, J.P. Morgan has high hopes.The investment banking firm's analyst, Anne Samuel, notes that she will be focused on how many new Data Operating System (DOS) clients were added during the year as well as dollar-based retention. Additionally, Samuel highlights the fact that the company thinks the Medicity conversion opportunity is approaching an inflection point in 2020 given that this past summer, cross-sell conversations kicked off.Based on Samuel’s estimates, the analyst expects net new customers for 2019 to land at 14, which would reflect 28% year-over-year customer growth. In terms of 2020 guidance, she is forecasting 18 net new DOS subscription customers and 7% same-store growth, amounting to 25% DOS subscription revenue growth. However, thanks to Medicity drag, the total revenue gain is expected to come in at 22%. As a result, this brings the 2020 revenue prediction to $186 million, which falls in line with the consensus.While Samuel does point out that HCAT operates in a highly competitive environment and that there could be an expense shift of $200,00 from Q3 into Q4, her bullish thesis remains very much intact. “We see significant white space in an $8 billion TAM, with over 20% revenue growth driven by mid-teens annual customer wins. We estimate the company reaches EBTIDA profitability in the next four years as a maturing customer base drives incremental leverage. The model is predictable with over 90% recurring revenue, 107% net dollar-based retention, and a sticky customer base, never having lost an all-access customer,” the analyst explained.Taking all of this into consideration, Samuel maintained both her Overweight call and $50 price target. Should this target be met, shares could be in for a twelve-month gain of 66%. (To watch Samuel’s track record, click here)Overall, it has been relatively quiet when it comes to other analyst activity. In the last three months, only 3 analysts have issued ratings. However, as they were all Buys, the word on the Street is that HCAT is a Strong Buy. Based on the $48.33 average price target, shares could climb 60% higher in the next twelve months. (See Health Catalyst stock analysis on TipRanks)Livongo Health Inc. (LVGO)Moving on to the firm’s next pick, we come across Livongo Health. For patients battling chronic health conditions, its digital health platform makes it easy to access personalized digital guidance and health coaching through a smart connected device. While the healthcare name has experienced significant volatility, the firm remains optimistic.Ahead of its Q4 earnings release on March 2, Samuel, who also covers this stock, wrote that LVGO already “blessed Street numbers on its Q3 call for $276 million equating to 63% year-over-year growth.” She added, “Looking at the economic value added (EVA) that they reported in Q3, a 40% conversion rate on $208 million year-to-date EVA would equate to a 70% revenue growth run rate on our math.”When the results are announced, Samuel anticipates that the Street will be paying close attention to 2020 guidance and the sustainability of rapid growth, noting that management stated 2020 will be an “investment year”. On top of this, the analyst is hoping for an update on enrollment, pipeline for new growth and any changes in the competitive landscape.In terms of the fourth quarter figures, Samuel is calling for revenue of $49.4 million and an EBITDA loss of $5.5 million, both of which would land within the guided range. For 2020, the analyst expects the company to guide for $281 million in revenue, a 66% increase if achieved, gross profit margins of 72% and a fiscal 2020 EBITDA loss of $25 million.Despite the EBITDA figure being in the red, Samuel believes LVGO will be able to reach operating income profitability in 2021. Additionally, the analyst argued, “The company is minimally penetrated in a vast and growing chronic disease market, as more than half of the U.S. population has one or more chronic conditions and an additional 4,000 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each day. LVGO’s rapid growth profile is attractive, and unique in Healthcare IT with our model calling for an 85% revenue CAGR over the next 3 years as the company increases its member base.”In line with her optimistic take, Samuel kept an Overweight rating and price target of $43 on the stock. This target conveys her confidence in LVGO’s ability to climb 55% higher in the next twelve months.What does the rest of the Street think about LVGO? As it turns out, other analysts are on the same page. With 100% Street support, the message is clear: the stock is a Strong Buy. Not to mention the $45.67 average price target implies 64% upside potential. (See Livongo stock analysis on TipRanks)

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Exxon Drops to 15-Year Low Ahead of Annual Strategy Presentation (Mon, 24 Feb 2020)
(Bloomberg) -- Exxon Mobil Corp. fell to a 15-year low on Monday amid a broad selloff in equity and commodity markets and just over a week before Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods is scheduled to present the oil explorer’s long-term strategic plan to investors and analysts.The shares have been under pressure since Exxon disclosed disappointing fourth-quarter results in late January and prospects for a near-term recovery were dimmed by the spreading coronavirus. Excess supplies of natural gas, chemicals and motor fuels also weighed on the oil supermajor.Exxon fell 4.7% to close at $56.36 on Monday in New York as Brent crude tumbled to about $56 a barrel. The last time the Texas-based driller’s stock traded at this level was the end of 2005, when crude fetched $59.Exxon has been scrutinizing employee-travel budgets since posting its worst quarterly profit in almost four years, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News earlier this month. Auditing teams have fanned out to some divisions to analyze travel requests involving industry conferences, the people said.Woods is focused on rebuilding Exxon’s portfolio of crude and gas projects through new drilling from Guyana to Mozambique. But investors have so far balked at the huge cost. Woods is scheduled to defend his strategy in a day-long presentation on March 5 in New York.To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Crowley in Houston at kcrowley1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net, Joe CarrollFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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