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About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Our mission: Bringing practical business and technical intelligence to today's structured cabling professionals

For more than 30 years, Cabling Installation & Maintenance has provided useful, practical information to professionals responsible for the specification, design, installation and management of structured cabling systems serving enterprise, data center and other environments. These professionals are challenged to stay informed of constantly evolving standards, system-design and installation approaches, product and system capabilities, technologies, as well as applications that rely on high-performance structured cabling systems. Our editors synthesize these complex issues into multiple information products. This portfolio of information products provides concrete detail that improves the efficiency of day-to-day operations, and equips cabling professionals with the perspective that enables strategic planning for networks’ optimum long-term performance.

Throughout our annual magazine, weekly email newsletters and 24/7/365 website, Cabling Installation & Maintenance digs into the essential topics our audience focuses on.

  • Design, Installation and Testing: We explain the bottom-up design of cabling systems, from case histories of actual projects to solutions for specific problems or aspects of the design process. We also look at specific installations using a case-history approach to highlight challenging problems, solutions and unique features. Additionally, we examine evolving test-and-measurement technologies and techniques designed to address the standards-governed and practical-use performance requirements of cabling systems.
  • Technology: We evaluate product innovations and technology trends as they impact a particular product class through interviews with manufacturers, installers and users, as well as contributed articles from subject-matter experts.
  • Data Center: Cabling Installation & Maintenance takes an in-depth look at design and installation workmanship issues as well as the unique technology being deployed specifically for data centers.
  • Physical Security: Focusing on the areas in which security and IT—and the infrastructure for both—interlock and overlap, we pay specific attention to Internet Protocol’s influence over the development of security applications.
  • Standards: Tracking the activities of North American and international standards-making organizations, we provide updates on specifications that are in-progress, looking forward to how they will affect cabling-system design and installation. We also produce articles explaining the practical aspects of designing and installing cabling systems in accordance with the specifications of established standards.

Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published by Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

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Pharma Stock Cuts Earnings Outlook: Still a Buying Opportunity

By: MarketBeat

Professional medical researcher working in the laboratory, he is examining samples

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) delivered a solid earnings report before the market opened on July 30, 2024. However, the stock was down over 4% in early trading after the company cut its full-year earnings forecast. The pullback comes as MRK stock is up 17% in 2024. If you look beyond the headline numbers, this could be a good buy-the-dip opportunity.  

First, the good news. Merck delivered a double beat with revenue of $16.11 billion, beating estimates for $15.89 billion. The biopharmaceutical company also delivered earnings per share (EPS) of $2.28, which was 6.3% higher than the expected $2.15 EPS.  

A key reason for the beat came from continued strength from its blockbuster oncology drug, Keytruda. Sales of Keytruda were up 16% to $7.3 billion, 44% of the company’s quarterly revenue. The company also raised its sales guidance for the year to a range of $63.4 billion to $64.4 billion.  

However, the company lowered its profit outlook to between $7.94 and $8.04 EPS. It is forecasting a one-time charge of around $1 billion for its acquisition of EyeBio.  

Looking Beyond Keytrudra 

Keytruda is Merck’s signature oncology drug. It’s also a significant driver of revenue and profits for the company. However, as AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) faces with its blockbuster drug, Humira, Keytruda is running up against a loss of patent protection. By 2028, the company will face biosimilar competition for Keytruda. 

That seems like a long time, but for investors in the biopharmaceutical sector, it’s right around the corner. That's because even when a drug successfully makes it into a Phase 3 clinical trial, it can take up to four years for the drug to complete that trial.

That's why investors want to see a plan for how Merck plans to replace that revenue. The company has high hopes for Winrevair, a first-in-class activin signaling inhibitor for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This rare disease primarily affects women between 30 and 60. Currently, PAH has a mortality rate of 40% in five years. Winrevair was approved by the FDA in March 2024 and is meant to be given every three weeks.   

Merck is Building From Its Strength 

Merck is a recognized leader in oncology and vaccines. But with Winrevair, it’s beginning to branch out into areas like cardiovascular-metabolic disorders. The company also has a GLP-1 drug in Phase 2 trials. The drug was granted fast-track approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of fatty liver disease.  

Both of these drugs complement Merck’s deep pipeline that includes up to 80 candidates. This includes an RSV candidate who recently met its main goals in a mid-to-late-stage trial. 

MRK Stock Offers Good Value and a Chance for Growth 

Merck currently trades at around 14x forward earnings. That's lower than the sector average for medical stocks, around 17x. The company also has an attractive dividend with a 2.56% yield. Merck has increased that dividend for the last 13 years. Based on the company’s history, it’s likely to issue another dividend hike in the coming quarter.  

However, value is only one reason to consider MRK stock. At various points in 2024, the stock has met resistance around $131 and $132 per share. This dip is bringing the stock down to a key support level that is matched by a reading of around 34 on the relative strength indicator (RSI).  

Merck MRK stock chart

Analysts have yet to weigh in on the company’s earnings, but the consensus price coming into earnings was $135.36, which is now a 13% upside along with the dividend.

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