Topic: How To Invest

Wall Street Stock Forecaster Hotline – Friday, August 5, 2016

Article Excerpt

PFIZER INC., $35.44, New York symbol PFE, is one of the world’s leading prescription drugmakers. Its top-selling brands include Lyrica (epilepsy), Celebrex (arthritis pain) and Enbrel (plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis). The company also makes over-the-counter medications and supplements, including Advil (pain relief), Centrum (vitamins) and Robitussin (cough syrup). In the three months ended June 30, 2016, earnings rose 10.7%, to $3.9 billion from $3.5 billion a year earlier. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share gained 14.3%, to $0.64 from $0.56. That beat the consensus estimate of $0.62. These figures exclude unusual items; those costs mainly related to last year’s $16.1 billion acquisition of Hospira, a maker of biosimilars. Its drugs are close copies of biologic drugs, which are made from living organisms such as bacteria and yeast. Pfizer’s revenue in the quarter rose 10.9%, to $13.1 billion from $11.9 billion. That also beat the consensus forecast of $13.0 billion. If…