Health Care Roundup: Market Talk

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.

0151 ET - Bangkok Dusit Medical Services' 3Q earnings and revenue likely marked new highs, says DBS Group Research's Sasikarn Udomvej in a note. The analyst expects the quarter's earnings to have risen to 4.6 billion baht, which should bring the company's nine-month earnings to 73% of DBS's forecast. Its revenue likely reached 29.3 billion baht, up 7% on year, likely supported by seasonal demand, increased respiratory cases and international patient growth, the analyst says. The Thai healthcare company's earnings could then further improve in 4Q, given Cambodian patient recovery and better operating leverage, the analyst adds. DBS maintains its buy rating and 23.00 baht target price. Shares trade flat at 19.10 baht. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0147 ET - Suzuken's business growth prospects appear good, Nomura's Kyoichiro Shigemura says in a research report. Drivers include expected stable margins and increase in exclusive distribution contracts for specialty pharmaceuticals in prescription pharmaceuticals wholesaling operations, the analyst says. Others are expansion in digital services and linkage between manufacturer distribution and wholesale distribution. Nomura likes the Japanese pharmaceutical wholesaler's approach to anticipating investor expectations by undertaking reform in wholesaling business, formulating strategies to boost return on equity, and enhancing shareholder returns. The brokerage upgrades the stock's rating to buy from neutral and raises its target price to 3,550 yen from 2,785 yen. Shares are 2.8% higher at 2,778.5 yen. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

2342 ET - Cochlear's earnings recovery in fiscal 2028 as implied by consensus forecasts looks increasingly at risk to UBS analysts. They tell clients in a note that Advanced Bionics' new implant platform is another incremental headwind for the Australian hearing-tech provider, pointing out that processor launches have historically driven share gains. The platform's AI functionality could give Sonova-owned Advanced Bionics additional competitive momentum. With an unchanged neutral rating on the stock, the UBS analysts see the modest revenue growth underpinning Cochlear's fiscal 2027 guidance as achievable. However, risks are growing further out, they caution. UBS maintains a target price of 135.00 Australian dollars. Shares are down 0.5% at A$130.39. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

2021 ET - Pharmaceutical company CSL's bull at Morgan Stanley raises its price target by 9.9% to A$200.00/share after factoring in the benefits of recent partnerships aimed at bolstering its pipeline of new treatments. CSL has announced partnerships with VarmX and Alentis over the past year or so. MS says its price target now includes A$8.00/share for VarmX's VMX-C001 drug candidate and A$3.00/share of Alentis's lixudebart treatment. "On balance, we see these transactions as consistent with CSL management's revised R&D strategy, including the development of candidates from external sources relevant to existing therapeutic areas," analyst David L. Bailey says. CSL is up 1.1% at A$194.35. (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)

1843 ET - AI capex has been a key support for global growth. But Macquarie notes a Fed rate hike and AI funding issues increase risks of an AI capex slowdown in 2027. "We think this would result in a growth scare that should drive down bond yields before central banks pivot to cuts next year," Macquarie says. Falling bond yields initially favor defensive stocks, such as infrastructure and property. Rate cut winners like retail work better closer to cuts, Macquarie says. "RBA tone is currently at its most hawkish in the 20-year history of our series, making the next shift more likely to be less hawkish and consistent with falling yields," Macquarie says. "The case for a pause is growing as consumer and business confidence weaken and unemployment rises." (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 19, 2026 16:50 ET (20:50 GMT)