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.

0812 GMT - Fresenius Medical Care's revenue estimates have been lowered by Jefferies due to constrained U.S. volume growth compared to prepandemic levels and a diverging growth outlook from U.S. rival DaVita, its analysts write. The German dialysis provider guides for 0.5% U.S. volume growth in 2025 and expects volumes to recover by 2% in 2026. On the contrary, DaVita guides for flat volume growth at the midpoint of its guidance in 2025 and refrained from long-term comments, hinting at a potentially slower growth across the market. Consequently, Jefferies lowers its 2025-29 revenue estimate but increases its adjusted EBIT target on the company's higher margins and raised savings ambitions. Jefferies analysts look for more updates on its strategy and future growth prospects at its June CMD, they add. Shares fall 0.9% to 45.07 euros.(helena.smolak@wsj.com)

0215 GMT - Top Glove's earnings could strengthen in fiscal 2H as glove demand improves, Maybank IB analyst Wong Wei Sum writes in a note. The glove maker expects sales to pick up from March-April as front-loaded inventories deplete and restocking resumes, she says. Top Glove prioritizes pricing strategy and cost-cutting to stay competitive with Chinese rivals, protecting its non-U.S. market share, she adds. Management also indicated that capacity expansion to 70 billion pieces annually, up from 64 billion pieces currently, will depend on utilization rising to 65%-70% from 58%, she notes. Maybank raises Top Glove's rating to hold from sell but trims the target price to MYR0.92 from MYR1.08, citing potential supply risks from Chinese competitors. Shares are 0.6% lower at MYR0.89. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0203 GMT - A high-severity influenza season in the U.S. could benefit vaccine makers including Australia's CSL, Morgan Stanley analyst David L. Bailey says. He points out that the U.S. CDC has designated its first high-severity season since 2017-18, with hospitalization rates at the end of February sitting at their highest levels since 2010-11. Bailey doesn't speculate on the degree to which vaccine demand could rise or the extent to which CSL and others could benefit. However, he thinks that vaccination rates may rise. CSL's fiscal first-half influenza vaccine sales fell 15% amid lower U.S. vaccination rates for people aged 15-64, he adds. Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating and A$313.00 target price on the stock, which is down 0.8% at A$253.20. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

0108 GMT - Top Glove could report sequentially weaker earnings for fiscal 3Q due to lower glove demand following front-loading by U.S. buyers ahead of higher tariffs on China-made gloves, CIMB Securities analyst Walter Aw Lik Hsin says in a note. Increased competition in non-U.S. markets may also pressure average selling prices, he reckons. However, demand recovery is anticipated from 4Q as U.S. clients exhaust their stockpiles, he says. Aw cuts his FY 2025-FY 2027 EPS estimates for Top Glove by 6.1%-19.9% to factor in slower increases in selling prices and sales volume in 2H amid competition from China. CIMB Securities lowers Top Glove's target price to MYR0.95 from MYR1.40 while maintaining a hold rating on the stock. Shares are 1.7% higher at MYR0.91. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 21, 2025 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)

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