UPDATE: JP Morgan Raises PT to $20 on NuVasive; 2013 Outlook Likely Conservative

JP Morgan maintained NuVasive

with a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $17.00 to $20.00. JP Morgan noted, "After taking into account expected contributions from both the PCM cervical disc ($3-5M) and Japan ($10M), where Nuvasive recently launched, management's $655M forecast implies growth of just 3-4% from the company's base business. This strikes us as overly conservative, coming on the heels of a better-than-feared 4Q performance, and likely reflects management's desire to set a low bar following three straight years of volatile performance from the business." NuVasive closed at $17.27 on Monday.