Sectors & IndustriesHealthcareDrug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic

Best Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy Now (2024)

Top pharmaceutical stocks in 2024 ranked by overall Zen Score. See the best pharmaceutical stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the drug manufacturers - specialty & generic industry.

According to Zen Score, the 3 best pharma stocks to buy right now are:

Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ:NBIX) is the top pharmaceutical stock with a Zen Score of 60, which is 35 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 25. It passed 20 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Neurocrine Biosciences has seen its stock return 37.5% over the past year, overperforming other pharmaceutical stocks by 44 percentage points.

Neurocrine Biosciences has an average 1 year price target of $147.60, an upside of 3.2% from Neurocrine Biosciences's current stock price of $143.03.

Neurocrine Biosciences stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 15 analysts covering Neurocrine Biosciences, 53.33% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 20% have issued a Buy, 26.67% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Pacira Biosciences (NASDAQ:PCRX) is the second best pharmaceutical stock with a Zen Score of 58, which is 33 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 25. It passed 18 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Pacira Biosciences has seen its stock lose -42.17% over the past year, underperforming other pharmaceutical stocks by -36 percentage points.

Pacira Biosciences has an average 1 year price target of $47.57, an upside of 76.52% from Pacira Biosciences's current stock price of $26.95.

Pacira Biosciences stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 7 analysts covering Pacira Biosciences, 28.57% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 71.43% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Siga Technologies (NASDAQ:SIGA) is the third best pharmaceutical stock with a Zen Score of 58, which is 33 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 25. It passed 21 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Siga Technologies has seen its stock return 60.05% over the past year, overperforming other pharmaceutical stocks by 66 percentage points.

Out of 6 pharmaceutical stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 pharmaceutical stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

Siga Technologies (NASDAQ:SIGA) has an annual dividend yield of 11.27%, which is 8 percentage points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 3.37%.

Siga Technologies's dividend payout ratio of 47.4% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Alkermes (NASDAQ:ALKS) has an annual dividend yield of 4.46%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 3.37%.

Alkermes's dividend payout ratio of 40.8% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Perrigo Co (NYSE:PRGO) has an annual dividend yield of 3.33%, which is the same as the pharmaceutical industry average of 3.37%. Perrigo Co's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Perrigo Co's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Perrigo Co's dividend payout ratio of -1,213.3% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Pharmaceutical stocks were up 0.48% in the last day, and up 3.46% over the last week. Akanda was the among the top gainers in the drug manufacturers - specialty & generic industry, gaining 25.81% yesterday.

Shares of cannabis-related stocks are trading higher following reports suggesting the DEA plans to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug.

Based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score, the 3 most undervalued pharmaceutical stocks right now are:

Pacira Biosciences (NASDAQ:PCRX) is the most undervalued pharmaceutical stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Pacira Biosciences has a valuation score of 100, which is 83 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 17. It passed 7 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Pacira Biosciences's stock has dropped -42.17% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the pharmaceutical industry by -36 percentage points.

Collegium Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:COLL) is the second most undervalued pharmaceutical stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Collegium Pharmaceutical has a valuation score of 71, which is 54 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 17. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Collegium Pharmaceutical's stock has gained 64.33% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the pharmaceutical industry by 71 percentage points.

Kamada (NASDAQ:KMDA) is the third most undervalued pharmaceutical stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Kamada has a valuation score of 71, which is 54 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 17. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Kamada's stock has gained 16.49% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the pharmaceutical industry by 23 percentage points.