Britain’s Smith & Nephew resumed its familiar role as a potential takeover candidate on Wednesday but analysts said market conditions and regulatory hurdles made an imminent move on the artificial hip and knee maker unlikely.

Shares in Smith & Nephew had lost 13 percent of their value since January 1 but Wednesday rose 4.9 percent on top of a 3.9 percent gain Tuesday as press reports resurrected talk of bid interest from Stryker, Johnson & Johnson and Biomet.

Morningstar analyst Julie Stralow said the rumors went back many years. “I chalk them up to rumors at this point,” she said.

The speculation endures because analysts and Smith & Nephew itself have said the orthopedics market will consolidate as hospitals seek economies from dealing with fewer suppliers.

The British company, worth about $9 billion, trails Zimmer (), Johnson & Johnson and Stryker in terms of market share, occupying a second tier with Bioment.