Why 7 of the Highest-Yielding ‘Strong Buy’ Health Care Stocks Are the Absolute Best 2023 Buys

Novartis

This is among the world’s largest pharmaceutical drug makers by sales and remains a top international pick across Wall Street. Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) researches, develops, manufactures and markets health care products in Switzerland and internationally. The company operates through two segments.

The Innovative Medicines segment offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It also provides cardiovascular, ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, hematology and solid tumor products.

The Sandoz segment develops, manufactures and markets finished dosage forms of small molecule pharmaceuticals to third parties. It also provides protein-based or other biotechnology-based products, including biosimilars, as well as biotechnology manufacturing services and anti-infectives, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates primarily antibiotics. Novartis has a license and collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to develop, manufacture and commercialize inclisiran, a therapy to reduce LDL cholesterol.

The dividend yield here is 3.66%. BofA Securities has set its price target at $113.50, and Novartis stock has a $107.13 consensus target. Shares closed at $95.80 on Tuesday.

Pfizer

This top pharmaceutical stock was one of the biggest winners in the COVID-19 vaccine sweepstakes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide.

The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including the following:

  • Cardiovascular metabolic and women’s health under the Premarin family and Eliquis brands
  • Biologics, small molecules, immunotherapies and biosimilars under the Ibrance, Xtandi, Sutent, Inlyta, Retacrit, Lorbrena and Braftovi brands
  • Sterile injectable and anti-infective medicines and oral COVID-19 treatment under the Sulperazon, Medrol, Zavicefta, Zithromax, Vfend, Panzyga and Paxlovid brands.
  • Pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, tick-borne encephalitis and COVID-19 under the Comirnaty/BNT162b2, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, Trumenba and the Prevnar family brands
  • Biosimilars for chronic immune and inflammatory diseases under the Xeljanz, Enbrel, Inflectra, Eucrisa/Staquis and Cibinqo brands
  • Amyloidosis, hemophilia and endocrine diseases under the Vyndaqel/Vyndamax, BeneFIX and Genotropin brands

Pfizer stock comes with a 3.93% dividend. The $62 Goldman Sachs price objective is higher than the $50.92 consensus target, and shares ended Tuesday’s session at $41.79.

Sanofi

This is another top pharmaceutical company in Europe trading at very reasonable levels. Sanofi S.A. (NYSE: SNY) engages in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of therapeutic solutions in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

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