Stock price when the opinion was issued
Attractively valued at about 15X 2017 earnings. This has had 30 years of dividend growth. In addition to valuation, this has a very attractive pipeline with a hidden value of new products coming up. They also have a drug for multiple sclerosis that is due for regulatory action on December 28. Dividend yield of 3.39%.
Made an acquisition quite a while ago of a biotech firm that comes up with all the future products. However, they are starting with some of the research that are in stage I and stage II. Sales were up 5% in the last quarter, but have seen a decline of 1% overall. The stock hasn't done a lot this year. Until this actually comes up with something that is going to be a gang buster, he would stay away.
A month ago, they bought Carmot Therapeutics, a private clinical-stage biotech, though its drugs are only in phase 2 trials. Why did they buy this? So they can work on their own weight-loss drug, which are hot now.