We make an exception for Pfizer

Article Excerpt

We generally recommend investors avoid pharmaceutical companies due to the huge costs and risks of developing new drugs. However, Pfizer is an exception. We feel its large size makes it less dependent on the success or failure of any single drug. In addition, the stock has more than doubled since we first recommended it at $20 in our July 2011 issue. We believe Pfizer’s strong pipeline of upcoming drugs and the potential spin-off its consumer drug business will fuel even more gains. PFIZER INC. $44 (New York symbol PFE; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 5.9 billion; Market cap: $259.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.8; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pfizer.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of prescription drugs. Its top-selling brands include Lyrica (epilepsy), Celebrex (arthritis pain), Prevnar (pneumonia) and Enbrel (rheumatoid arthritis). Pfizer’s revenue fell 5.3%, from $51.6 billion in 2013 to $48.9 billion in 2015. That decline is partly because it continues to face more competition from generic…