One of the smaller details of Trumpcare, the redacted version of Obamacare, is the elimination of a tax imposed on manufacturers of medical devices. While the fate of pre-existing conditions has been hogging the spotlight in recent days, this particular tax and its future could have an impact on companies like Ventripoint Diagnostics (OTCMKTS: VPTDF TSE:VPT), and other small cap biotech companies in the device sector.
Embedded in Obamacare is a medical device tax of 2.3%. It was first imposed in January 2013 as a funding mechanism for the Affordable Care Act, a law that has brought medical coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans. But despite the partisan nature of ACA, this particular tax has powerful enemies in both parties. The tax was so controversial it was temporarily suspended in 2015, but those in the medical device industry were wary that it would go away forever.
Hot Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Panera Bread Company(PNRA)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Seth McNew]
Other companies have followed suit with great success, including PaneraBread (NASDAQ:PNRA), which has focused on improving the customer experience, including via shorter wait times. Panera 2.0 was largely successful because of the company’s focus on its digital strategy and Chipotle looks to be doing the same thing.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Shares of Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ: PNRA) got a boost, shooting up 14 percent to $312.29 after the company agreed to be acquired by JAB for $7.5 billion.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Then there’s Panera Bread (PNRA) , a company that had lost its way. But after interviewing Panera’s CEO Ron Shaich, Cramer learned that at its new, remodeled “Panera 2.0” stores, the lines were out the door. As the rollout continued, earnings only got stronger. Never underestimate the power of a restaurant redo, Cramer concluded.
- [By Billy Duberstein]
In late March, the company informed investors that after a two-year undertaking, it had finally removed all preservatives from its tortillas, making the Chipotle menu completely preservative-free. The company also called out competitors McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) and Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA) for marketing their menus as “natural,” as Chipotle insisted these other restaurants still use preservatives made in a lab.
Hot Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Rackspace Hosting Inc(RAX)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Monica Gerson]
Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX) reported better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter, but the company missed analysts’ sales estimates. Rackspace shares dropped 7.72 percent to $20.80 in the after-hours trading session.
Hot Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACHN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Paul Ausick]
Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN) dropped about 6.9% Friday to post a new 52-week low of $2.69 after closing at $2.89 on Thursday. The 52-week high is $5.66. Volume was around 6.2 million, more than three times the daily average of around 1.9 million. The company had no specific news.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
We updated our annual U.S. Hep C survey in early July, in order to gauge the future for Gilead, AbbVie/Enanta Pharmaceuticals (ENTA), Merck, and J&J/Achillion Pharmaceuticals (ACHN). In conjunction with script trends, physicians indicate that the market for treatment-eligible, easily accessible Hep C patients is shrinking, but that Gilead’s share of the shrinking pie is continuing to grow. With no end to script declines in sight, we are left wondering where the Hep C will bottom…
Hot Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: FuelCell Energy Inc.(FCEL)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Paul Ausick]
The North American subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) is teaming up with alternative energy supplier Fuel Cell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) to build a fuel cell power generation unit and hydrogen fueling station at Toyota’s facilities at the Port of Long Beach, California. The new plant, which is forecast to come online in 2020, was unveiled Friday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
- [By Paul Ausick]
FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a new 52-week low of $1.00 on Friday, down 60% compared with Thursday’s closing price of $1.60. The stock’s 52-week high is $8.88. Volume of around 12.4 million shares was about 13 times the daily average of around 800,000 shares. The company priced a secondary stock offering of 12 million shares and additional warrants at $1.28 to raise $15.4 million.
- [By Peter Graham]
The Q1 2017 earnings report for small cap fuel cell stockFuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL) is scheduled forbefore the marketopens onThursday (March 9th). Last December,FuelCell Energy announced a business restructuring to reduce costs and align production levels with current levels of demand in a manner that is consistent with the Companys long-term strategic plan.The Company said it cut 96 jobs, or 17% of its workforce, and has halved production to 25 megawatts a year in order to position for delays in order flow.
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows shares of Plug Power along withalternative energy or fuel cell stock peers like Ballard Power Systems Inc (NASDAQ: BLDP), FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL) and Hydrogenics Corporation (NASDAQ: HYGS) all peaking in 2014 with shares leveling off or just sliding downward moderately over the past year:
