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Stockchase Opinions

James MoffettSmith & Nephew PLCSNNTOP PICKMay 21, 2004

A play on the aging of the population.
$51.73

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$30.08

As of Jun 18, 2026. Market Open.

biotechnologypharmaceutical
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WEAK BUY

He owns Stryker instead. But SNN enjoys a demographic tailwind as Boomers age. Demand will continue to grow.

TOP PICK
UK-based company. Hip and knee replacement. Huge long-term growth area. Medical devices are easier than pharma to get approval to come to market. Surgeries put on hold from Covid, huge backlog. 15x earnings, double-digit grower for years to come starting in 2023. Yield is 2.35%. (Analysts’ price target is $36.13)
TOP PICK
A UK company. They make minimally invasive surgical equipment. Hip and joint surgeries were cancelled/postponed during Covid which hurt SN's sales, but there's a huge backlog. This will bounce back after Covid. (Analysts’ price target is $41.33)
COMMENT

US Healthcare For knee replacements and implants he likes SNN-N. He does not prefer the ETFs, such as XLV-N, because they hold too broad of an array of companies, including the big drug companies that are under pressure. He would focus on the tool and device space instead.

HOLD
They're a UK medical technology company, 75% in hips and knees. They had hiccups a year ago in their wound management business, but have subsided. He has owned this. He doesn't own it now, because the options market isn't very liquid in the U.S. Also, Stryker is the leader in robotics, and SNN is only second or third, launching in 2021. SNN has similar growth to Stryker. Good to hold.
COMMENT
Have turned the business around and are starting to grow. Not a lot of debt, ROC is more than 10%. Dividend not growing a lot. He owns Stryker instead. Middle of the road in its sector. Not a leader.
COMMENT

Has owned it in the past. Primary business in orthopedics. Great company. Last quarter has been mixed. There is speculation that they are buying Boston Scientific. Valuation wise it is OK. Stryker (SYK-N) is taking leadership in the orthopedic space. Longer term he prefers Stryker (SYK-N).

DON'T BUY

Smith & Nephew or Stryker? Smith: Knows it only marginally. The options S&N were generation aren't attractive enough for him to buy. Stryker: Keep an eye on this. Their robotic surgery is cutting a strong profile in orthopedic surgeries. It's definitely becoming the market leader.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Aug 11/11. Up 24.13%.) Demand for discretionary medical devices has been affected by the economy. Like many European companies, the valuations are quite low and can have further upside from here.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Feb 23/11. Down 10.95%.) Medical devices. Just reported strong numbers. Volumes in replacement knees has suffered because of the economy but still likes this long-term because of demographic tailwinds. Strong possibility it will get taken out in 3-4 years by one of its competitors.
BUY
Wounds (bandages), arthroscopic surgery and orthopedics. They are the largest presence in Europe, which is hurting them. A lot of people have lost their healthcare coverage and is hurting the industry. Ultimately this stock will do well.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Nov 19/10. Down 2.76%.) Economic environment has taken some of the wind out of their sails but they'll come back.
PAST TOP PICK
(Top Pick Nov 10/10, Up 2.12%) knee replacements, demographic play. Last year and a half have not been that robust because knee replacements are a little bit elective. There is a pent up demand for this kind of surgery. Some interest in the space from some of their competitors.
TOP PICK
(London Stock exchange.) Medical devices. This sort of business that can continue to grow a respective of the economy. Good price.
TOP PICK
Medical device manufacturer for replacement hips and knees. Huge demographic area. Not particularly expensive at less than 15X earnings. Strong balance sheet. Could be a takeout candidate.