Healthcare is one of the markets most defensive sectors. Indeed, as long as humans exist, they will need treatments to prevent and cure diseases, meaning that there will always be a demand for the services of companies likeAstraZeneca (LSE: AZN)Shire (LSE: SHP) andHikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE: HIK).
As an investor, the best thing about owning shares in a large pharmaceutical company is the fact that you dont have to babysit your investment. Companies like AstraZeneca, Shire and Hikma own the rights to products that will always be in demand, and are spending billions on R&D to ensure that they have a steady stream of new products coming to market.
Take AstraZeneca, for example. The market is concerned about the companys outlook as some the groups best-selling products are coming off patent during the next few years. These treatments account for around a fifth of sales, so AstraZeneca has a lot to lose if the company is unable to produce replacement drugs. As a result, for the past ten years AstraZeneca has spent around $5bn per annum on R&D, thats just under a fifth of revenues. The company now has more than 200 new products under development and City analysts believe that AstraZenecas treatment pipeline is robust enough to return the group to growth by 2017. According to analysts, AstraZenecas new product sales could top $21bn 90% of existing sales by 2022 in a best-case scenario. While investors wait for AstraZenecas pipeline to start producing results, the companys shares yield 4.1% and its this hefty yield thats helped AstraZenecas shares provide a total return of 19.3% over the past three years, compared to a return of 6.7% for the wider FTSE 100. AstraZeneca is currently trading at a forward P/E of 16.1.
Shirespecialises in the production of treatments for rare diseases and the company is a leader in this highly profitable niche.Shireis currently chasing the acquisition of Baxalta, another specialist in rare disease treatments. If Shires management gets Baxalta shareholders to accept the companys offer, it will create a global leader in rare disease drugs with projected product sales of $20bn by 2020. Further, based on current treatment pipelines, the enlarged group could launch more than 30 new products, with an incremental sales potential of $5bn by 2020. So, ifShiremanages to convince Baxalta to sell out, there could be years of profitable growth ahead for the company. Shire is currently trading at a forward P/E of 18.7.
Hikma specialises in the production of generic, low-cost drugs which have lost patent protection and the company is extremelygood at this. The companys earnings per share have expanded 130% since 2010 and City analysts have pencilled in EPS growth of 16% for 2016. Based on this forecast the company is trading at a forward P/E of 23.2. Hikmas shares only offer a token dividend yield of 0.7%, although the payout is covered five times by earnings per share.
And if you’renot interested in AstraZeneca, Hikma or Shire, there’s onebiotech out therethat flies under the radar of most investors.The company in question is a small but growing player in the industry and is backed by some of the world’s largestpharmaceutical companies.
Also, the small-cap in question gearing up to launch several new proven products during the next year or so.
The Motley Fool’s top analysts have identified this company as one of the market’stop small caps. They believe theshares could jump by as much as 45%.
If you want to find out more about the company in question, downloadour new free reporttoday.
Rupert Hargreaves owns shares of AstraZeneca. The Motley Fool UK has recommended AstraZeneca and Hikma Pharmaceuticals. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
