Medical Device Makers (VOLC) (EW) (XRAY) Among Hardest Hit in Japan

A large number of sectors have been hit hard in Japan, depending on the exposure they have to the country, and one not mentioned too much so far is the medical devices market, where those with the most exposure to Japan are Volcano Corp (NASDAQ:VOLC) Edwards Lifesciences Corp (NYSE:EW) and Dentsply International Inc (NASDAQ:XRAY).

About 30 percent of revenue generated by Volcano comes from Japan. Dentsply said key suppliers have been disrupted and has withdrawn its earnings guidance for 2011. Edwards Lifesciences Corp., which makes heart valves, generates about 17 percent of its revenue in Japan. At worst, Edwards sees disruptions being temporary and see no materially impact financial results from the earthquake damage.

Even so, analysts say every company should experience some degree of loss of sales as a result of the natural disaster.

Others device makers with significant exposure in Japan are Boston Scientific Corp (NYSE:BSX), with 12 percent of total sales in Japan, St Jude Medical Inc (NYSE:STJ) and Wright Medical Group Inc (NASDAQ:WMGI) at 11 percent each, Stryker Corp (NYSE:SYK) at 10 percent and Zimmer Holdings Inc (NYSE:ZMH) at 9 percent.

Larger diversified firms with less exposure are Medtronic Inc (NYSE:MDT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) with from 5 percent to 6 percent of sales coming from Japan.

Of drugmakers, the largest exposure is Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) with about 8 percent of sales coming from Japan. Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) only has about 3 percent of sales come from there.

Volcano Corp. closed Tuesday at $23.56, down $1.21, or 4.88 percent. Edwards Lifesciences closed at $86.23, dropping $2.23, or 2.52 percent. Densply closed at $35.63, falling $1.55, or 4.17 percent.