Your Portfolios in Brief
Founded in 1997, BioMarin (BMRN) is a global company specializing in the development and commercialization of therapies for rare and genetic diseases. It operates in more than 50 countries and employs several thousand people worldwide. Its portfolio includes innovative treatments for conditions often overlooked by major pharmaceutical companies.
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Key Highlights in 2024-2025
• Annual Guidance: BioMarin has raised its revenue forecasts for the year due to strong demand for its therapies, particularly Voxzogo, used for the treatment of achondroplasia.
• Quarterly Revenue: The company reported $667 million in revenue for the last quarter, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
• Drug Performance: Voxzogo continues to exceed expectations, recording double-digit growth, while other treatments, such as Palynziq and Vimizim, are also showing progress.
• Adjusted Earnings Forecast: BioMarin has increased its adjusted earnings forecast, anticipating significantly improved profitability.
• Performance Against Wall Street Expectations: The company outperformed Wall Street estimates, surpassing revenue and earnings projections due to strong commercial execution.
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Why This Stock is One to Watch
BioMarin stands out for its commitment to innovation in the field of rare diseases. With a promising pipeline and growing adoption of its treatments, the company is well-positioned for continued growth in 2025. Additionally, its efforts to improve margins and optimize its business model enhance its attractiveness to investors.
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What Analysts Are Saying
Analysts view BioMarin as a high-potential company, particularly due to its strong growth prospects and established product portfolio. Several Wall Street firms have raised their price targets for the stock, anticipating continued upward momentum.
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Conclusion
Over the past month, BioMarin’s stock has gained +11%, outperforming some of its competitors in the biopharmaceutical sector. Since the release of its latest financial results, the stock has risen 5.2%, driven by solid growth prospects and renewed investor confidence.
At Pratte Portfolio Management, we firmly believe in BioMarin’s potential. Holding this stock in our portfolio has been a sound decision, and we are excited to see what the future holds for this innovative company.
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Markets in Brief
Monday
Stock markets in the United States and Canada were closed on Monday due to a public holiday.
• In the U.S., the market was closed for President’s Day.
• In Canada, markets were closed for Family Day in several provinces.
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Tuesday
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: +0.02%, closing at 44,556.34 points.
• S&P 500:+0.24%, reaching a new record at 6,129.58 points.
• NASDAQ Composite: +0.07%, closing at 20,041.26 points.
• S&P/TSX Composite Index (Toronto): +0.65%, closing at 25,648.84 points.
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Sectors in Motion
• Energy Leads the Market
o The energy sector was the top performer in the S&P 500, gaining 1.9%. Companies such as Halliburton and Valero Energy led the rally.
• Technology Edges Higher
o Tech stocks also contributed positively, though with more modest gains.
• Consumer Discretionary & Communication Services Decline
o These sectors weighed on the market, with declines of approximately 1% and 1.2%, respectively.
o Notably, Meta Platforms fell 2.7%, ending a 20-day winning streak.
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Key Events of the Session
• Corporate Announcements
o Intel dropped 6.13%, closing at $25.72, after reports surfaced that Broadcom and TSMC were considering deals with the chipmaker.
• Airline Sector Under Pressure
o Delta Air Lines declined 1.61% following an incident during the landing of one of its aircraft in Toronto, which resulted in injuries.
o Southwest Airlines announced a 15% workforce reduction by the end of June, causing its stock to drop 0.92%.
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Stocks in Brief
Gainers
• Halliburton (+1.12%): Benefited from rising crude oil prices, lifting the entire energy sector.
• ConocoPhillips (+2.19%): Gained on market optimism about stronger oil demand.
• EOG Resources (+2.74%): Supported by rising commodity prices and increased investor interest in energy producers.
Losers
• Meta Platforms (-2.7%): Pulled back after 20 consecutive days of gains, as investors took profits.
• Intel (-6.13%): Declined amid rumours that Broadcom and TSMC could enter agreements with other chipmakers, affecting its competitive position.
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) (-0.88%): Fell due to concerns over trade tensions and potential new taxes on the semiconductor sector.
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Focus on the Canadian Market
• Energy Sector Rises
o In Toronto, the energy sector was the primary driver of gains in the S&P/TSX Composite, supported by higher oil and gas prices.
• Canadian Dollar Declines
o The Canadian dollar traded at $USD 0.7046, slightly lower than $USD 0.7059 in the previous session.
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Wednesday
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: +0.16%, closing at 44,627.59 points.
• S&P 500:+0.24%, reaching a new record at 6,144.15 points.
• NASDAQ Composite: +0.07%, closing at 20,056.25 points.
• S&P/TSX Composite Index (Toronto): -0.09%, closing at 25,626.16 points.
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Sectors in Motion
• Technology Gains
o The tech sector was one of the top performers, led by companies like Microsoft and Tesla.
• Consumer Discretionary Declines
o The consumer discretionary sector weighed on the market, with notable declines in Bumble and Etsy.
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Key Events of the Session
• Microsoft Unveils Quantum Computing Chip
o Microsoft announced its first quantum computing chip, driving a 1.3% increase in its stock.
• Trump Threatens New Tariffs
o Donald Trump discussed imposing 25% tariffs on imports of automobiles, chips, and pharmaceuticals, potentially as soon as April 2.
• Fed Minutes Released
o The Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes revealed that officials want to see more progress on inflation before making further rate cuts.
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Stocks in Brief
Gainers
• Analog Devices (+9.7%): The semiconductor manufacturer surged after posting better-than-expected quarterly results.
• Garmin (+12.7%): Beat earnings expectations and reported strong growth in smartwatch sales.
• Tesla (+1.8%): Advanced on renewed investor optimism about demand for its new models.
Losers
• Nikola (-39.1%): Plummeted after filing for bankruptcy, citing a lack of sufficient financing.
• Philips (-11.6%): Reported larger-than-expected losses, citing high restructuring costs.
• Bumble (-30.2%): Tanked after issuing weaker-than-expected revenue guidance.
• Etsy (-10.05%): Fell after disappointing holiday season sales.
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Focus on the Canadian Market
• Technology and Base Metals Decline
o In Toronto, technology and base metals contributed to the slight decline in the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
• Canadian Dollar Falls
o The Canadian dollar traded at $USD 0.7031, down from $USD 0.7046 the previous day.
Investors continue to monitor political and economic developments, including tariff threats and Fed policy signals.
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Thursday
• Dow Jones: -450.94 points (-1.01%), closing at 44,176.65 points
• S&P 500:-26.63 points (-0.43%), closing at 6,117.52 points
• NASDAQ: -93.89 points (-0.47%), closing at 19,962.36 points
• S&P/TSX Composite: -112.08 points (-0.44%), closing at 25,514.08 points
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Walmart Drags the Retail Sector Down
• Walmart reported better-than-expected quarterly sales and earnings, but its 2026 sales growth forecast of 3% to 4% disappointed investors.
• The stock fell by 6.5%, putting pressure on the entire retail sector.
• Impact on the sector:
o Costco: -2.6%
o Target: -2%
o Amazon: -1.7%
• Investors are concerned about a slowdown in consumer spending, driven by persistent inflation and uncertainties related to tariffs.
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Banks Under Pressure After a Weak Economic Indicator
• The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index unexpectedly declined in January, signalling potential economic slowdown.
• This led to lower bond yields and pressure on financial stocks, including:
o Goldman Sachs: Declined
o Morgan Stanley: Declined
• Investors fear the Federal Reserve may delay interest rate cuts amid economic uncertainty.
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Palantir Drops Amid Budget Cut Fears
• Palantir’s stock fell by 5.2% after reports suggested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was considering $50 billion in budget cuts.
• The company, which relies heavily on government contracts, could face revenue challenges.
• Meanwhile, Intel plunged 6.13% following rumours of a potential partnership between Broadcom and TSMC, increasing competitive pressure in the semiconductor sector.
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Focus on the Canadian Market
• Energy Sector on the Rise:
o The energy sector was the main driver of the S&P/TSX Composite, supported by rising oil and gas prices.
• Canadian Dollar Slightly Lower:
o The Canadian dollar traded at $USD 0.7046, down from $USD 0.7059 the previous session.
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Stocks in Brief
Gainers
• Halliburton (+1.12%): Benefited from rising crude oil prices, boosting the entire energy sector.
• ConocoPhillips (+2.19%): Advanced due to market optimism about stronger oil demand.
• EOG Resources (+2.74%): Supported by rising commodity prices and increased investor interest in energy producers.
Losers
• Meta Platforms (-2.7%): Pulled back after 20 consecutive days of gains, as investors took profits.
• Intel (-6.13%): Declined due to rumours of Broadcom and TSMC securing new agreements, impacting its competitive positioning.
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) (-0.88%): Fell due to concerns over trade tensions and potential new semiconductor taxes.
• Carvana (-12.8%): Despite higher-than-expected revenue, investors remain cautious about its long-term profitability.
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Most Affected Sectors
• Retail: Declined following Walmart’s disappointing outlook.
• Technology: Under pressure due to fears of government budget cuts.
• Financials: Declined due to weak economic indicators and uncertainty about Federal Reserve policies.
• Energy: Outperformed as oil and gas prices continued to rise.
Investors continue to monitor upcoming economic reports and Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.
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Friday
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: down 0.7%.
• S&P 500: slight decrease of 0.3%.
• NASDAQ Composite: decline of 0.1%.
• S&P/TSX Composite (Canada): decrease of 0.84%.
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Impact of Government Investigations on the Healthcare Sector
The healthcare sector was particularly affected, with UnitedHealth’s stock dropping significantly by 9%. This decline followed reports that the Department of Justice is investigating the insurer’s Medicare billing practices. This news also impacted other health insurers, such as CVS Health and Humana, which recorded respective declines of 2.7% and 3.1%.
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Conclusion
The week was marked by increased market volatility, with investors navigating between mixed corporate earnings, ongoing macroeconomic concerns, and regulatory tensions.
The Dow Jones and S&P 500 ended the week lower, impacted by UnitedHealth’s sharp decline and Walmart’s cautious forecasts. The NASDAQ, although affected by the drop in tech stocks like Akamai, managed to limit its losses thanks to strong performances from companies such as MercadoLibre.
Investors will also keep a close eye on upcoming earnings reports, particularly in the technology and industrial sectors, which could set the tone for the rest of the first quarter.
