Billionaire Paulson’s Top Healthcare Picks Include Allergan PLC (AGN), Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (VRX) & Shire PLC (ADR) (SHPG)

Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) represents the second-largest position of Paulson & Co, which held 9.0 million shares valued at $2.00 billion, following the addition of 6.95 million shares during the second quarter. Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) surpassed the market’s earnings and revenue estimates for the second quarter, reporting cash earnings per share of $2.56 over revenues of $2.7 billion against estimates of $2.46 per share over revenue expectations of $2.5 billion. However, considering the acquisition cost of Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) and currency headwinds, the biopharmaceutical company reported GAAP net loss of $0.15 per share. Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) updated its full-year revenue guidance to between $10.7 billion and $11.1 billion, against the previous outlook of $10.4 billion to $10.6 billion. The healthcare company announced the acquisition of Egyptian pharmaceutical company Amoun Pharmaceutical for $800 million in July. The acquisition will help Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) in its expansion plans in the Middle East and North African pharmaceutical market. Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is the largest shareholder of Valeant in our database. Its position in Valeant Pharmaceuticals includes 19.47 million shares valued at $4.33 billion.

In Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG), Pauslon disclosed holding 7.10 million shares worth $1.71 billion. The hedge fund trimmed its stake in the Irish biopharmaceutical firm by 14% during the second quarter. Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG) placed a $30 billion bid for the acquisition of Baxalta Inc (NYSE:BXLT) on July 10, which was subsequently rejected. Shire PLC fell short of markets’ earnings expectations for the second quarter, with non-GAAP EPS of $2.63 against estimates of $2.82. Its quarterly revenue increased by 4% on a year-over-year basis to $1.56 billion, slightly below the Wall Street’s estimate of $1.59 billion. Samuel Isaly of Orbimed Advisors is among the largest shareholders of Shire PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:SHPG), holding 1.31 million shares as of the end of June.

Disclosure: None