Report Card: David Risinger

David Risinger Merrill Lynch
	Report Card 2* Overall rank 2* Rank by institutions 25* Rank by stock picking Makes money for me Saves me from disaster Makes me think Tells the truth Meaningful service, not overkill Well-connected *Out of 26. Best star rating is 3 stars. Click here for our methodology.
2nd Place(tie) Health Care Distributors and Services

Bio

B.A., Bucknell University. Risinger joined Merrill Lynch in mid-1999, covering the health care information technology, distribution and outsourcing sectors. From 1996 to 1999 he covered pharmaceutical services at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. He started his research career at Dillon Read in 1991.

Industry Outlook and Style

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Risinger is very positive on the health care distribution market, though he warns that this year isn't likely to be as spectacular as last: "The group had a phenomenal year last year, trading up over 100%, so investors shouldn't expect that type of performance in 2001," he says.

Still, the Merrill Lynch analyst expects earnings growth to average 15% - 20% over the next year or so, and he says investors should look for performance at similar levels. He notes that earnings visibility for most companies in the sector is very good.

With the outlook for the economy less sure, Risinger says that health care distributors are "high-quality companies with fundamentals that will perform well irrespective of the economy." Should the Fed continue to cut rates and thus accelerate S&P 500 earnings growth, however, the group will look less attractive on a relative basis, the analyst observes. But, he adds, "it will take time for rate cuts to impact the economy, so we remain constructive on the distributors in the near term."

Another modest risk Risinger cites is political rhetoric surrounding the drug industry. "There could be additional political attacks against the drug industry," he observes, "but we don't think that will cause significant Wall Street concern, because the Republican Bush administration is in charge." The analyst also believes a Medicare drug benefit under the current administration would be a positive for the sector, as the sales volume of drugs would likely increase.

Risinger sees industry consolidations, like the recent purchase of Bindley Western(BDY Quote) by Cardinal Health(CAH Quote), as positives that will help drive performance for the sector. He picks Cardinal as his top large-cap play and AmeriSource Health(AAS Quote) as the best small-cap name. (Merrill Lynch does not have investment banking relationships with either company.)

Stock Pick

Favorite stock for next 12 months: Cardinal Health
Comment:
"Cardinal Health is our top pick given the company's track record, diversity of earnings and high earnings visibility. Current target is $105."