The Best Big Pharma Dividend Stocks?
Health-care stocks have soared since the start of 2013. Shares of Dow component Merck , which makes one of the best-selling diabetes treatments in the world, are up almost 17% year to date, despite facing headwinds from the patent expiration of top-selling drug Singulair and some pipeline setbacks. The company's blockbuster drug Januvia has managed to offset some of these losses, but the company's insomnia drug was rejected by the Food and Drug Administration recently. Stalwart Johnson & Johnson , on the other hand, has climbed more than 26%. Smaller pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb may be partners on recently approved diabetes medications, like Byetta and Bydureon, but their performances have differed greatly. AstraZeneca's shares are up only 8% while Bristol-Myers Squibb has soared 43%.
Despite each company's performance since the start of 2013, which one is positioned the best to grow in the future? Analysts Max Macaluso and David Williamson debate this topic in the following video.
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The article The Best Big Pharma Dividend Stocks? originally appeared on Fool.com.
David Williamson has no position in any stocks mentioned. Max Macaluso, Ph.D. has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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