Biotechnology stocks can be high-risk investments because of the intensive research and development (R&D) process necessary for developing new drugs. Even with the millions of dollars that are often spent, there is never a guarantee that the drug will pass regulatory hurdles from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) or that the drug will ever reach the market.
There are many reasons why biotech companies are often unprofitable for years, including:
·
High R&D costs:
R&D in the biotech field is expensive and time-consuming.
·
Regulatory Approval:
The process may take years to complete before a drug can be sold (assuming its approved).
·
Competition:
The biotech industry can be highly competitive because the rewards are so high if a drug is approved. Several companies often work on a solution to the same health problem – something that is good for consumers but can be tough for biotech companies.
Below, we will cover profitable biotech companies that are worth watching.
Gilead Sciences
GILD
is a drugmaker that develops treatments for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other diseases. Until recently, the $107 billion giant had been stuck in a long, frustrating price range however, recently, it finally pulled back after a 9-week winning streak.
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Pictured: Gilead shares have been on a tear since reporting strong profits from it’s cancer drugs.
What woke the stock up? In Gilead’s third quarter earnings report, sales of the company’s cancer drugs almost doubled. On an annual basis, sales of its two major cancer drugs rocketed by more than 75%. Though sales growth has slowed in recent quarters, the company raised revenue guidance.
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Pictured: Gild’s P/E is attractive on a relative basis when compared to the general market.
If Gilead’s cancer drugs can propel the company to higher growth, the stock will be attractive from both a growth and a valuation perspective. GILD’s P/E over the trailing twelve months stands at an attractive 13.52 compared to the S&P 500 Index’s 18.06 – scoring the biotech giant the highest possible Zack’s Value Ranking of A. Though the stock has only caught fire recently, its price history over time suggests the company is worth watching. Despite its size, GILD is up 1,900% over the past 20 years – far outpacing the general market’s performance.
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Pictured: GILD is a top performing stock over the past 20 years. Can the biotech behemoth reward investors once again?
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
CPRX
is a developer of therapies that target rare neurological diseases and disorders such as Tourette Syndrome and Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). Over the past three quarters CPRX has achieved impressive EPS growth of +64%, +75%, and +86% on revenue growth of +43%, +46%, and +59%.
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Pictured: CPRX revenue is firing on all cylinders.
CPRX’s financial efficiency has also drastically improved over the past 12 months. The company boasts a healthy return on equity (ROE) of 28.53 – a rare high number in the biotech industry.
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Pictured: CPRX is very financially efficient – especially for a biotech.
Catalyst’s stock has responded. The stock is up by 150% on the year and recently found buyers at its rising 50-day moving average. Investors should stick with the trend as long as shares hold the 50-day moving average.
Moderna Inc
MRNA
is a developer of the MRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax, which was approved in the United States. The vaccine is also authorized for emergency use in several countries worldwide. Before the rollout of its Coronavirus vaccine, Moderna had been unprofitable. In 2021, Moderna swung to annual EPS of 28.21 from a loss of -1.96 in 2020.
While Moderna’s windfall profits have slowed slightly, the company is still very profitable and is getting more attractive on a valuation basis. MRNA holds a P/E ratio of just 6.52 currently. Moderna sports a Zack’s Momentum and Value Ranking of A.
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Pictured: MRNA’s technical picture is improving as the stock retakes its key moving averages.
From a technical perspective, MRNA’s chart is improving. The stock recently retook its 200-day moving average and is pulling into its rising 50-day moving average – an area of attractive risk-to-reward.
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