Like groceries, medicine is one of those essential mainstays that cannot be overlooked without immediate consequences. With the baby boomers retiring and getting older by the year, this is a reality investors should not ignore. The rest of the market has made volatility its first mate on the stormy seas of 2011, but the big pharmaceutical companies are sailing down a different path — a path that ensures stability and growth well into 2012.

I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I have seven feel-good pharma stocks to buy.

Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets an “A” or “B” according to my research, meaning it is a “strong buy” or “buy.”

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) discovers, develops, manufactures and sells a diversified line of health care products. Since the start of 2011, ABT stock is up 13%, compared to a 3% gain for the Dow Jones in the same time. ABT stock gets an “A” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of ABT stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) sells its pharmaceutical products mostly to wholesalers, retail pharmacies, hospitals and government entities. The big pharma stock is up more than 27% in just 12 months. BMY gets a “B” for earnings momentum, a “B” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month and an “A” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of BMY stock.

Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY) manufactures its products in 19 countries and sells its products in more than 120. LLY has posted a return of 14% so far in 2011. LLY stock gets a “B” for cash flow and an “A” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of LLY stock.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) is involved with vaccines, over-the-counter medicines and other health-related consumer products. GSK has posted a year-to-date gain of more than 13%. GSK stock gets an “A” for earnings momentum and an “A” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of GSK stock.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is a household name with more than 250 operating companies. JNJ stock has posted a modest gain of 1% for 2011, a little less than the broader markets. JNJ stock gets a “B” for earnings momentum and an “A” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of JNJ stock.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is a global pharmaceutical company that works with biopharmaceuticals and oncology products. PFE stock has gained 19% since the start of 2011. PFE stock gets an “A” for operating margin growth, an “A” for earnings growth, a “B” for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a “B” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month, a “B” for cash flow and a “B” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of PFE stock.

Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) is known mostly for developing therapeutic solutions. Year-to-date, SNY stock has gained nearly 5%, compared to smaller gains by the broader markets. SNY stock gets an “A” for sales growth, a “B” for earnings momentum and a “B” for cash flow in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of SNY stock.

Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis Navellier’s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.