The premier ratings on Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. reflect the company's continuing position as one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, its long record of successful drug development, a diverse revenue base, and solid cash flows. New York, N.Y.-based Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has executed a series of strategic transactions over the past year to increase its focus on its core pharmaceutical business, including acquiring DuPont's pharmaceutical business for $7.8 billion, investing $2 billion into emerging biotech, ImClone Systems, and divesting its hair care division, Clairol, and orthopedic division, Zimmer. Both the ImClone and DuPont transactions served to broaden Bristol-Myers' drug development pipeline that contains several near-term high potential prospects, such as the cardiovascular, Vanlev; the schizophrenia treatment, Abilitat; and Erbitux, ImClone's
