Merck
This remains a leading health care stock for conservative investors. Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) offers therapeutic and preventive agents to treat cardiovascular issues, type 2 diabetes, asthma, nasal allergy symptoms, allergic rhinitis, chronic hepatitis C virus, HIV-1 infection, fungal infections, intra-abdominal infections, hypertension, arthritis and pain, inflammatory, osteoporosis, male pattern hair loss and fertility diseases.
The company also provides neuromuscular blocking agents for use in surgery, anti-bacterial products for skin and skin structure infections, cholesterol modifying medicines, non-sedating antihistamine and vaginal contraceptive products.
Investors in Merck stock receive a 3.14% dividend. Goldman Sachs has set a $101 target price. The $92.58 consensus target is also higher than Wednesday’s closing print of $89.19.
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.
Investors receive a 5.32% dividend. The BofA Securities target price is $64. Verizon Communications stock has a consensus target of $60.64. The closing share price on Wednesday was $47.88.
Given Warren Buffett’s proclivity for only owning the stocks of companies that he understands inside and out, these all make sense now for growth and income investors worried about the potential for a continued steep market decline. While they could sell off in a large correction, they will hold up far better than most.
Originally posted at 24/7 Wall St.
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