The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services, as well as digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products.
Merck serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals and government agencies; managed health care providers, such as health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and other institutions; and physicians and physician distributors, veterinarians and animal producers. The company has collaborations with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eisai, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Gilead Sciences.
Investors receive a 3.05% dividend. Goldman Sachs has a $105 target price, and Merck stock is on its Conviction List of top stock picks. The consensus target is $96.54, and Tuesday’s closing price was $90.48 a share.
Verizon
This top telecommunications stock offers tremendous value at current levels, and Berkshire Hathaway owns 158.8 million shares. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is one of the largest U.S. telecom companies. It provides wireless and wireline service to retail, enterprise and wholesale customers.
Verizon’s wireless network serves approximately 120 million mobile connections with 115 million postpaid subscribers. Its wireline business has undergone a period of secular decline due to wireless substitution and cable competition.
Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and it delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.
Verizon Communications stock investors receive a 4.96% dividend. The BofA Securities target price is $64, while the consensus target is $60.64. Shares closed Tuesday’s trading at $51.65 apiece.
Given Buffet’s proclivity for only owning the stock of companies that he understands inside and out, these all make sense now for growth and income investors worried about the potential for a steep market decline. While they could sell off in a large correction, they will hold up far better than most and are less likely to be stung by higher interest rates.
Originally posted at 24/7 Wall St.
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