Quarterly earnings reports are usually more dull than emotional. But things got a little bit touchy-feely on Schering-Plough’s conference call with analysts this morning. The report was likely Schering-Plough’s last, if rival Merck’s take-over of the drug maker closes by year’s end as expected. And so the earnings call’s invariable bleating about operational sales growth and foreign exchange impact came with notes of nostalgia. For the record, Schering-Plough said its

third-quarter profit fell 16% due to charges, but earnings per share of 40 cents beat Wall Street’s consensus. Analysts offered kind good byes and good lucks. Executives waxed about the company, and its pipeline of new drugs, that they had built. It will all go to Merck now, Chief Executive Fred Hassan said in closing.

Originally posted here:
Earnings Call Is a Requiem for Schering-Plough