M&A Is Back. 4 Stocks That Could Be Targets.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 19 2024
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Should l Buy BMY?
Source: MarketWatch
- Mergers are back: There is a resurgence in mergers, presenting opportunities for small-cap investors.
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Analyst Views on BMY
Wall Street analysts forecast BMY stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
11 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 57.390
Low
37.00
Averages
55.86
High
68.00
Current: 57.390
Low
37.00
Averages
55.86
High
68.00
About BMY
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a global biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in the discovery, development and delivery of transformational medicines for patients facing serious diseases in areas: oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular, neuroscience and other areas. Its growth portfolio includes Opdivo (nivolumab), Opdivo Qvantig (nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy), Yervoy (ipilimumab), Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt), Opdualag (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw), Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel), Camzyos (mavacamten), Zeposia (ozanimod), Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel), and Sotyktu (deucravacitinib). Its other growth products include Onureg, Inrebic, and Empliciti. Its legacy portfolio includes Eliquis (apixaban), Revlimid (lenalidomide), Pomalyst/Imnovid (pomalidomide), Sprycel (dasatinib), and Abraxane (paclitaxel albumin-bound particles for injectable suspension). Opdivo (nivolumab) is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to the PD-1 on T and NKT cells.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Dividend Yield Comparison: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) boasts a dividend yield of 4.4%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 1.2%, making it attractive; however, future uncertainties may jeopardize its sustainability.
- Patent Cliff Challenges: The company faces patent expirations on key drugs like Eliquis and Opdivo, and as generic competition intensifies, revenue is expected to decline, potentially reducing cash flow available for dividend payments.
- Revenue Forecast Downgrade: Last year's revenue was flat at $48.2 billion, with this year's forecast ranging from $46 billion to $47.5 billion, indicating pressure on revenue growth and increasing concerns over dividend sustainability.
- Investor Confidence Issues: Although Bristol Myers has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years and maintains a manageable payout ratio of 72%, analysts suggest investors consider more stable dividend investments, such as dividend index funds, due to the uncertainties ahead.
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- Clinical Trial Results: Camzyos achieved its primary and several secondary endpoints in the SCOUT-HCM Phase 3 trial, demonstrating efficacy and safety in adolescents with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM), potentially positioning it as the first cardiac myosin inhibitor in this patient group, significantly enhancing their quality of life.
- Real-World Evidence: New data from the DISCOVER-HCM and MARVEL-HCM studies indicate that Camzyos consistently exhibits safety and effectiveness in real-world settings in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, reinforcing its established role in the treatment of oHCM.
- Improvement in Patient Quality of Life: The COMPASS-HCM study highlights significant improvements in health status and quality of life for patients within two weeks of starting Camzyos treatment, underscoring the drug's importance in enhancing patient-reported outcomes (PRO), which may drive its acceptance in the market.
- Future Outlook: Bristol Myers Squibb plans to present these findings at the 2026 American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session, further solidifying Camzyos as the standard of care for oHCM treatment, which is expected to attract more attention and drive future market growth.
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- AbbVie's Dividend King Status: AbbVie is not only a reliable dividend raiser but also a Dividend King, having increased its dividend for 50 consecutive years; despite facing the patent expiration of Humira, management strategically bolstered its pipeline with Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which generated $7.4 billion in net revenue in Q4, accounting for 44% of total revenue.
- Strong Cash Flow Support: AbbVie's robust free cash flow is more than sufficient to sustain its quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share, currently yielding 3.4%, ensuring the company's ability to maintain dividend stability and attractiveness amid market fluctuations.
- Bristol Myers Squibb's Innovative Response: Facing similar patent cliff challenges, particularly with cancer drugs, Bristol Myers Squibb's growth portfolio achieved a 16% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, nearing $7.4 billion, demonstrating the company's resilience in navigating market pressures.
- Solid Financial Forecast: Despite a 15% decline in revenue from its legacy portfolio to $5.1 billion, Bristol Myers Squibb's management projects annual revenue between $46 billion and $47.5 billion for 2023, with free cash flow at $12.8 billion, significantly exceeding the $5 billion needed for dividends, ensuring a sustainable dividend yield of 4.4%.
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- AbbVie's Dividend King Status: AbbVie is not only a reliable dividend raiser but also a Dividend King, having increased its dividend annually for 50 years, and despite facing the patent expiration of Humira, its management has effectively navigated challenges through strategic acquisitions and new drug development, ensuring strong cash flow and a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share, currently yielding 3.4%.
- New Drug Revenue Growth: AbbVie's next-generation drugs, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, generated a combined net revenue of $7.4 billion in the fourth quarter, accounting for 44% of the company's total revenue, demonstrating its strong market adaptability post-Humira patent loss and further solidifying its leadership in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Bristol Myers Squibb's Innovative Response: Facing patent cliffs with cancer drugs like Revlimid and Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb has driven growth through innovation, with its growth portfolio's revenue increasing by 16% year-over-year to nearly $7.4 billion in the fourth quarter, alleviating the revenue decline from its legacy portfolio and showcasing resilience in adversity.
- Strong Free Cash Flow: Although Bristol Myers Squibb may experience a decline in free cash flow, which was $12.8 billion last year, significantly exceeding the $5 billion needed for dividend payments, its current dividend yield stands at 4.4%, providing a stable return outlook for long-term investors.
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- Combination Therapy Potential: Founder Patrick Soon-Shiong indicated that combining Abraxane with ImmunityBio's Anktiva could enhance immune responses by 'exposing' tumors and boosting macrophage activity, thereby improving treatment outcomes, particularly in pancreatic cancer patients.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The latest Phase 1 trial demonstrates that Anktiva, in conjunction with Abraxane and other agents, is being evaluated for safety and efficacy in patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, potentially offering new pre-surgical treatment options.
- Market Recognition Boost: Anktiva's recent inclusion in Macau's approved drug list and endorsement by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) as a recommended treatment for bladder cancer further solidifies its market position and expands its therapeutic applications.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: Despite IBRX shares surging nearly 250% over the past year, recent retail sentiment on Stocktwits has turned 'bearish', indicating a cautious outlook among investors regarding the stock's future performance, reflecting a divergence in perceptions of its potential.
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- Clinical Research Findings: Three studies featuring Viz HCM will be presented at the 2026 American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session, highlighting its effectiveness in detecting hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is expected to promote early diagnosis and treatment accessibility, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
- AI Technology Application: Viz HCM is the first FDA-cleared AI algorithm capable of detecting HCM from a standard 12-lead ECG, helping to identify nearly 85% of undiagnosed patients, showcasing its significance and potential in cardiovascular care.
- Impact of Empirical Studies: Research conducted at The Christ Hospital Health Network demonstrated that AI-enabled ECG screening successfully identified 11 new HCM patients, indicating that embedding AI technology within healthcare systems can effectively close diagnostic gaps and enhance ongoing care coordination.
- Future Outlook: The studies suggest that AI-ECG not only facilitates earlier disease detection but also reshapes how health systems monitor and follow patients over time, positioning Viz.ai's technology to play a larger role in cardiovascular care.
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