The news that activist investor Carl Icahn has taken a position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) is fueling takeover speculation.
And he's not alone. Jana Partners LLC took a stake in the company last year after Bristol-Myer's lung cancer treatment, Opdivo, fared poorly in a late-stage study.
In a deal with Jana, the company agreed to add three directors to its board and to launch a $2 billion accelerated share repurchase program.
But perhaps the best reason is that the company might be a bargain. While the shares rose around 15 percent in February on acquisition rumors, more meaningful is that the company has several promising studies in the works testing Opdivo as a treatment for other cancers.
Plus the company has a robust pipeline of other drugs at various phases of testing. Several of its existing drugs are posting double-digit sales increases.
The company has a hefty cache of about $8.6 billion in cash or cash equivalents, which it could use for more product development or a strategic acquisition. And we like the reliable 2.7 percent dividend.
