The health care sector is a field that will continue to grow as long as Baby Boomers continue to get old and retire. And, since that trend isn’t going to end anytime soon, I expect the trend to continue well into the decade. However, it’s up to savvy investors to take advantage of the plays that big pharma offers — some of which can be found below.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. This week, I’ve got eight 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 various health care products. ABT stock is up almost 16% in the last 12 months. ABT 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 (NYSE:BMY) sells its health care products to wholesalers, retail pharmacies, hospitals, government entities and other medical providers. In the last year, BMY stock has climbed 33% compared to a 6% gain for the Dow Jones in the same period. BMY gets a “B” for earnings momentum, a “B” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over 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 (NYSE:LLY) is involved with every process of development and sale for its pharmaceutical products. LLY stock has jumped 14 % in the last year, compared to smaller gains by the broader markets. LLY 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 best known for developing vaccines, over-the-counter medicines and health-related consumer products. A 14% has made GSK stock a success in the last year. GSK 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) has become a household name for developing a range of products in the health care field. JNJ stock is up 4% in the last 12 months. JNJ 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.
Merck (NYSE:MRK) is involved with prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health and consumer care products. In the last 52 weeks, MRK has gained nearly 2%. MRK gets an “A” for earnings growth, an “A” for earnings momentum, a “B” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month and a “B” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of MRK stock.
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is a research-based, global biopharmaceutical company that has become a household name in the U.S. PFE is up an impressive 19% in the last year. PFE gets an “A” for operating margin growth, a “B” 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 over 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 for discovering, developing and distributing therapeutic solutions. SNY rounds out the list with a gain of 11% in the last year. 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.
