Sectors & Industries HealthcareDrug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Best Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top pharmaceutical stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best pharmaceutical stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Drug Manufacturers - Spec...

Overview Zen Rating Price Value Growth Financials

Momentum Sentiment Forecast Dividends Due Diligence

Pharmaceutical is Zen Rated A and is the 26th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries

Ticker	Company	Market Cap	ROE	ROA	ROCE	ROIC	D/E	Current Ratio	Gross Margin	Profit Margin	Operating Margin
AMRX	AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$4.29B	-68.00%	2.00%	11.60%	8.60%	-52.97	2.17	36.90%	2.40%	10.75%
NBIX	NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES INC	$14.78B	21.60%	15.10%	23.01%	25.10%	0.44	2.93	98.20%	21.60%	30.22%
INDV	INDIVIOR PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$4.95B	-142.20%	19.10%	80.14%	74.60%	-9.31	0.86	81.30%	19.40%	25.95%
TAK	TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL CO LTD	$52.82B	1.60%	0.80%	4.45%	7.00%	1.02	1.19	65.30%	2.50%	12.75%
PAHC	PHIBRO ANIMAL HEALTH CORP	$2.37B	30.80%	6.70%	14.96%	10.10%	3.23	3.05	31.90%	6.30%	11.47%
LNTH	LANTHEUS HOLDINGS INC	$5.57B	20.60%	10.80%	17.61%	28.60%	1.04	2.70	61.10%	15.20%	21.64%
SUPN	SUPERNUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$2.99B	-2.70%	-2.00%	-4.36%	-16.10%	0.39	1.96	89.40%	-3.70%	-6.33%
PCRX	PACIRA BIOSCIENCES INC	$932.15M	0.70%	0.40%	2.70%	2.80%	0.85	4.73	79.30%	0.70%	4.05%
VTRS	VIATRIS INC	$18.36B	-23.00%	-9.20%	-10.61%	-14.50%	1.53	1.38	35.10%	-24.60%	-22.33%
ANIP	ANI PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$1.89B	16.20%	5.60%	9.97%	12.30%	1.66	2.71	61.40%	8.70%	13.11%
ELAN	ELANCO ANIMAL HEALTH INC	$13.08B	-3.60%	-1.80%	0.35%	0.50%	1.03	2.16	55.10%	-4.90%	0.82%
IRWD	IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$787.57M	-8.20%	6.60%	66.44%	16.30%	-2.52	1.13	100.00%	8.10%	34.70%
KMDA	KAMADA LTD	$477.64M	7.70%	5.40%	7.34%	18.10%	0.41	4.07	42.30%	11.20%	13.48%
HLN	HALEON PLC	$41.32B	10.20%	5.00%	8.67%	24.40%	0.98	0.92	64.20%	15.10%	21.77%
CPIX	CUMBERLAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$65.36M	-10.50%	-4.00%	-5.74%	-9.90%	2.10	1.01	85.00%	-6.40%	-5.17%
SCYX	SCYNEXIS INC	$43.86M	-19.00%	-14.40%	-15.83%	-21.20%	0.20	7.04	100.00%	-41.80%	-40.95%
BHC	BAUSCH HEALTH COMPANIES INC	$2.11B	N/A	-4.60%	3.77%	2.90%	-12.42	1.32	71.00%	-11.50%	7.15%
ETON	ETON PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$822.63M	-18.80%	-4.80%	-1.57%	-2.70%	2.52	1.57	53.90%	-5.70%	-1.04%
COLL	COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL INC	$1.16B	24.10%	3.90%	14.38%	19.10%	4.49	1.57	59.30%	8.10%	22.41%
ORGO	ORGANOGENESIS HOLDINGS INC	$329.32M	7.80%	3.90%	8.96%	12.60%	0.55	3.62	75.60%	3.50%	7.92%
ZTS	ZOETIS INC	$46.95B	58.20%	18.10%	27.07%	25.70%	3.64	3.03	71.80%	28.20%	37.84%
DERM	JOURNEY MEDICAL CORP	$142.39M	-46.40%	-13.20%	-13.43%	-37.40%	1.97	1.79	66.20%	-18.50%	-12.40%
TEVA	TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD	$42.32B	20.70%	3.90%	8.68%	10.40%	3.87	1.01	52.10%	9.00%	13.27%
ALKS	ALKERMES PLC	$5.89B	8.80%	5.40%	6.48%	16.50%	1.43	2.27	86.60%	9.80%	15.18%
EVO	EVOTEC SE	$1.15B	-12.30%	-5.70%	-5.37%	-5.50%	1.11	2.07	14.50%	-13.10%	-9.17%
TKNO	ALPHA TEKNOVA INC	$195.06M	-23.30%	-15.80%	-17.17%	-14.40%	0.51	4.58	33.20%	-42.60%	-40.70%
PRGO	PERRIGO CO PLC	$1.70B	-50.70%	-19.80%	-22.56%	-25.20%	2.20	2.72	34.20%	-43.50%	-37.71%
HROW	HARROW INC	$1.50B	-10.00%	-1.40%	7.52%	10.60%	6.62	2.20	75.10%	-1.90%	8.38%
PBH	PRESTIGE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE INC	$2.57B	10.20%	5.40%	9.19%	21.60%	0.91	3.11	56.10%	16.90%	27.94%
EBS	EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC	$469.53M	-1.60%	-0.60%	5.04%	5.00%	1.52	4.29	54.20%	-1.30%	8.73%
CRON	CRONOS GROUP INC	$993.11M	-0.90%	-0.80%	-5.54%	-23.50%	0.05	19.59	42.80%	-6.40%	-43.39%
YCBD	CBDMD INC	$9.58M	-64.60%	-34.50%	-26.22%	-97.00%	0.31	2.94	60.60%	-19.50%	-12.37%
EOLS	EVOLUS INC	$416.20M	N/A	-19.40%	-15.27%	-12.20%	-8.67	2.04	66.10%	-14.40%	-7.72%
AMPH	AMPHASTAR PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$1.08B	12.80%	6.00%	10.14%	11.10%	1.07	4.02	49.50%	13.60%	20.71%
LFCR	LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL INC	$185.89M	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-13.95	3.49	N/A	N/A	N/A
RGC	REGENCELL BIOSCIENCE HOLDINGS LTD	$13.64B	-54.80%	-50.50%	-70.39%	-83.50%	0.18	7.39	N/A	N/A	N/A
HCM	HUTCHMED (CHINA) LTD	$2.34B	45.70%	30.20%	36.41%	45.60%	0.41	4.96	38.70%	83.30%	95.42%
SIGA	SIGA TECHNOLOGIES INC	$336.73M	11.20%	10.00%	15.08%	73.70%	0.10	11.83	68.60%	24.60%	32.12%
RMTI	ROCKWELL MEDICAL INC	$31.92M	-15.60%	-9.60%	-8.81%	-11.90%	0.55	3.98	16.90%	-7.70%	-6.05%
QNTM	QUANTUM BIOPHARMA LTD	$20.53M	-625.20%	-224.40%	2,172.38%	2,182.60%	27.46	0.63	N/A	N/A	N/A
TLRY	TILRAY BRANDS INC	$671.32M	-86.90%	-64.60%	-79.57%	-129.40%	0.35	2.79	27.70%	-156.70%	-168.48%
RDY	DR REDDYS LABORATORIES LTD	$11.23B	18.40%	12.80%	21.76%	28.70%	0.47	1.92	58.50%	17.40%	24.24%
CRDL	CARDIOL THERAPEUTICS INC	$132.34M	-238.00%	-165.00%	-188.25%	808.50%	0.32	4.16	N/A	N/A	N/A
OGI	ORGANIGRAM GLOBAL INC	$187.83M	4.90%	3.30%	1.01%	1.60%	0.44	2.73	35.60%	6.50%	1.57%
AQST	AQUESTIVE THERAPEUTICS INC	$516.25M	N/A	-64.50%	-59.11%	-49.80%	-5.77	3.14	58.30%	-188.10%	-149.70%
IXHL	INCANNEX HEALTHCARE INC	$58.65M	-113.30%	-101.90%	-65.84%	-1,772.00%	0.02	48.27	N/A	N/A	N/A
CGC	CANOPY GROWTH CORP	$434.54M	-52.90%	-32.70%	-32.28%	-40.00%	0.46	5.34	25.80%	-117.30%	-116.88%
BIOA	BIOAGE LABS INC	$819.25M	-27.90%	-25.50%	-29.08%	-98.60%	0.08	14.24	100.00%	-896.10%	-888.36%
ALVO	ALVOTECH	$1.11B	-11.90%	2.00%	24.14%	12.80%	-6.23	1.89	60.00%	4.70%	48.49%
ACB	AURORA CANNABIS INC	$200.75M	-20.60%	-14.00%	-15.21%	-17.60%	0.39	3.06	34.50%	-30.20%	-25.65%
ESPR	ESPERION THERAPEUTICS INC	$808.95M	N/A	-6.00%	38.63%	11.90%	-2.54	1.54	67.90%	-5.60%	15.82%
AYTU	AYTU BIOPHARMA INC	$27.48M	-107.20%	-19.70%	-37.96%	-254.40%	7.59	1.16	66.80%	-39.00%	-34.20%
INCR	INTERCURE LTD	$47.90M	-9.00%	-4.90%	-2.42%	-2.80%	0.74	0.96	12.30%	-13.20%	-4.27%
BFRI	BIOFRONTERA INC	$13.28M	-1,139.00%	-52.20%	-60.35%	-120.20%	1.73	1.52	73.70%	-25.30%	-24.12%
CABR	CARING BRANDS INC	$11.63M	-217.10%	-202.40%	-291.12%	-2,166.20%	0.11	13.16	55.60%	-148,948.80%	-148,494.07%
ZYBT	ZHENGYE BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDING LTD	$46.68M	-26.10%	-15.00%	-17.50%	-16.10%	0.52	1.14	20.50%	-60.00%	-47.51%
APUS	APIMEDS PHARMACEUTICALS US INC	$24.52M	-14.20%	-13.00%	-3.73%	-14.90%	0.07	1.31	N/A	N/A	N/A
ASRT	ASSERTIO HOLDINGS INC	$143.08M	-30.30%	-10.60%	-19.26%	-28.30%	1.84	1.70	70.20%	-25.60%	-22.63%
IMCC	IM CANNABIS CORP	$1.51M	-498.70%	-27.90%	340.31%	-73.40%	-9.48	0.67	17.70%	-20.70%	-14.11%
ZSTK	ZEROSTACK CORP	$12.64M	-353.10%	-228.80%	-419.21%	-229.10%	0.23	1.39	15.70%	-378.00%	-377.62%
RDHL	REDHILL BIOPHARMA LTD	$0.00	N/A	-2.00%	-4.75%	3.60%	4.94	0.34	100.00%	-150.00%	-101.75%
AKAN	AKANDA CORP	$1.00M	-56.60%	-27.50%	-66.04%	-3,415.80%	0.88	1.26	9.60%	-619.50%	-619.14%
CTOR	CITIUS ONCOLOGY INC	$80.24M	-55.20%	-24.00%	-34.19%	-44.40%	0.88	0.83	80.00%	-599.30%	-565.79%
SHPH	SHUTTLE PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS INC	$4.36M	-444.90%	-188.80%	-464.35%	625.00%	3.65	0.06	N/A	N/A	N/A
SXTC	CHINA SXT PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$1.36M	-50.30%	-30.90%	-41.06%	4,390.00%	0.30	4.37	654,226.10%	-4,820,590.80%	-4,550,441.85%
PRFX	PRF TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$1.59M	-96.90%	-60.80%	-53.59%	309.90%	0.32	1.78	-311.80%	-29,541.20%	-30,129.41%
SNOA	SONOMA PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$2.06M	-85.90%	-24.20%	-36.68%	-53.30%	2.97	2.88	38.20%	-19.00%	-19.47%
BGM	BGM GROUP LTD	$2.13M	-2.40%	-2.10%	-3.78%	-20.90%	0.13	1.82	19.40%	-10.10%	-25.89%
TXMD	THERAPEUTICSMD INC	$23.50M	-2.10%	-1.50%	-1.73%	-2.00%	0.40	3.02	100.00%	-18.80%	-18.83%
UPC	UNIVERSE PHARMACEUTICALS INC	$1.59M	-7.20%	-5.40%	-6.13%	-12.00%	0.24	4.07	35.30%	-20.60%	-19.26%
TLPH	TALPHERA INC	$43.54M	-118.00%	-62.20%	-55.15%	-67.40%	0.75	5.49	100.00%	-51,035.70%	-51,035.71%
SBFM	SUNSHINE BIOPHARMA INC	$5.30M	-25.00%	-19.50%	-25.19%	-43.10%	0.31	4.17	33.80%	-16.50%	-16.40%
KALA	KALA BIO INC	$106.89M	-12,955.60%	-90.80%	-338.82%	-277.50%	0.36	3.81	N/A	N/A	N/A
GELS	GELTEQ LTD	$4.77M	-43.00%	-31.50%	-29.63%	-7,184.60%	0.36	0.27	30.30%	-4,011.90%	-2,834.31%
CPHI	CHINA PHARMA HOLDINGS INC	$21.36M	-28.70%	-17.00%	-13.07%	-72.70%	0.36	0.32	-3.20%	-76.90%	-74.45%

Pharmaceutical Stocks FAQ

What are the best pharmaceutical stocks to buy right now in May 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best pharma stocks to buy right now are:

1. Amneal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMRX)

Amneal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMRX) is the #1 top pharmaceutical stock out of 75 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Amneal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMRX) is: Value: B, Growth: A, Momentum: C, Sentiment: A, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMRX) has a Due Diligence Score of 30, which is equal to the pharmaceutical industry average of 30.

AMRX passed 10 out of 33 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Amneal Pharmaceuticals has seen its stock return 89.69% over the past year, overperforming other pharmaceutical stocks by 107 percentage points.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has an average 1 year price target of $17.00, an upside of 24.82% from Amneal Pharmaceuticals's current stock price of $13.62.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 3 analysts covering Amneal Pharmaceuticals, 100% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ:NBIX)

Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ:NBIX) is the #2 top pharmaceutical stock out of 75 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ:NBIX) is: Value: A, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: A, and AI: A.

Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ:NBIX) has a Due Diligence Score of 59, which is 29 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 30.

NBIX passed 20 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Neurocrine Biosciences has seen its stock return 23.63% over the past year, overperforming other pharmaceutical stocks by 41 percentage points.

Neurocrine Biosciences has an average 1 year price target of $183.05, an upside of 24.51% from Neurocrine Biosciences's current stock price of $147.02.

Neurocrine Biosciences stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 19 analysts covering Neurocrine Biosciences, 52.63% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 31.58% have issued a Buy, 15.79% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Indivior Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INDV)

Indivior Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INDV) is the #3 top pharmaceutical stock out of 75 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Indivior Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INDV) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: A, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Indivior Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INDV) has a Due Diligence Score of 45, which is 15 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 30.

INDV passed 15 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Indivior Pharmaceuticals has seen its stock return 247.09% over the past year, overperforming other pharmaceutical stocks by 264 percentage points.

Indivior Pharmaceuticals has an average 1 year price target of $48.00, an upside of 18.2% from Indivior Pharmaceuticals's current stock price of $40.61.

Indivior Pharmaceuticals stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Indivior Pharmaceuticals, 0% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 100% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the pharmaceutical stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 7 pharmaceutical stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 pharmaceutical stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Siga Technologies (NASDAQ:SIGA)

Siga Technologies (NASDAQ:SIGA) has an annual dividend yield of 12.77%, which is 9 percentage points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 4.02%.

Siga Technologies's dividend payout ratio of 181.8% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Perrigo Co (NYSE:PRGO)

Perrigo Co (NYSE:PRGO) has an annual dividend yield of 4.73%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 4.02%. 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 -8.8% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Kamada (NASDAQ:KMDA)

Kamada (NASDAQ:KMDA) has an annual dividend yield of 3.02%, which is -1 percentage points lower than the pharmaceutical industry average of 4.02%.

Kamada's dividend payout ratio of 57.1% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are pharmaceutical stocks up?

Pharmaceutical stocks were up 1.79% in the last day, and up 6.38% over the last week. Elanco Animal Health was the among the top gainers in the drug manufacturers - specialty & generic industry, gaining 13.88% yesterday.

Elanco Animal Health shares are trading higher after reporting better-than-expected Q1 financial results and raising its FY26 guidance above estimates.

What are the most undervalued pharmaceutical stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued pharmaceutical stocks right now are:

1. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IRWD)

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IRWD) is the most undervalued pharmaceutical stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals has a valuation score of 71, which is 52 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 19. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals's stock has gained 421.04% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the pharmaceutical industry by 438 percentage points.

2. Collegium Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:COLL)

Collegium Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:COLL) is the second most undervalued pharmaceutical stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Collegium Pharmaceutical has a valuation score of 57, which is 38 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 19. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Collegium Pharmaceutical's stock has gained 35.07% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the pharmaceutical industry by 52 percentage points.

3. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH)

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH) is the third most undervalued pharmaceutical stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals has a valuation score of 71, which is 52 points higher than the pharmaceutical industry average of 19. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals's stock has gained 0.13% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the pharmaceutical industry by 18 percentage points.

Are pharmaceutical stocks a good buy now?

47.37% of pharmaceutical stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect pharmaceutical stocks to rise by 31.53% over the next year.

12% of pharmaceutical stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 30% of pharmaceutical stocks are rated B (Buy), 46% are rated C (Hold), 12% are rated D (Sell), and 0% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the drug manufacturers - specialty & generic industry?

The average P/E ratio of the drug manufacturers - specialty & generic industry is -154.15x.

WallStreetZen does not provide financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.

Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes and is not advice. WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data.