What To Expect -- From Whitehouse Station -- On July 27, 2012

Here's what to expect, according to The Wall Street Journal's reporting -- on July 27, 2012:

. . . .Merck & Co. | Reports July 27 | Wall Street Expectations:

The company is seen reporting earnings of $1.01 and $12.2 billion in revenue. A year earlier, the company earned 65 cents a share, or 95 cents excluding acquisition-related and restructuring charges, on revenue of $12.15 billion.

Key Issues: Merck, like its rivals, has been cutting costs as part of an effort to soften the hit from increased generic competition as the company gears up for the loss of patent exclusivity on its top-selling allergy and asthma medication Singulair in August. Merck also has been hurt by the ripple-effect from generic versions of rival Pfizer Inc.'s cholesterol fighter Lipitor, which have contributed to a slower sales of Merck's anticholesterol drug Vytorin. Meanwhile, Merck recently said AstraZeneca won't exercise its option to acquire Merck's interest in their AstraZeneca L.P. partnership this year, putting any potential loss of its interest in heartburn drugs Prilosec and Nexium off by two years and clarifying the status of the partnership. . . .

Do tune in on July 27, about an hour before the NYSE opening bell. [I should also mention that on July 23, Vertex will post its Q2 2012 results -- and I'll have those Incivek vs. Victrelis Hep C US market share splits, shortly thereafter.]