I’d rather get my news from the Bloomberg terminal than anywhere else. But in reality, it’s simply populating that content from other places. With only 46 days left until the presidential election and a pandemic still looming overhead, it might be one of the worst times to believe anything said in the media.
Instead of trying to figure out which news source is accurate, I notice any hot subject … then turn to the objectivity of the Weiss Ratings to see which is the best for investing.
Biotech companies and pharmaceuticals have always been regulars in the new cycle, but since March, they have been even more popular. But popular doesn’t necessarily equate to more money in your pocket.
Each article seems to try and unravel the previous one. One says that clinical trials are going well, while the next says there are side effects being ignored.
I even read one article that was talking about Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE, Rated “C+”) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, Rated “D”)’s mRNA hopeful concluding that it will need to be stored at -94 degrees. And it will only last for 24 hours at refrigerated temps. That will be a huge challenge for distribution.
The overall sentiment is that there has been growing optimism that a COVID-19 vaccine could be distributed by the end of the year.
This optimism will be good for the biotech and pharmaceutical sector as a whole as it sees more dollars flowing that way.
Instead of speculating on the names being throw around in the news, I turned to our handy stock screener on weissratings.com. Today, I searched for the top-rated stocks in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and life sciences sectors. The results were 23 stocks with a “Buy” signal of either “B” or “B-” rating.
Let’s jump right in…
Top-rated pick for today is Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc (NYSE: BIO, Rated “B”). Bio-Rad is a global leader in innovative products for the life sciences research and clinical diagnostic markets.
The company is active in providing a wide range of products associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s involved in the diagnosis and antibody detection solutions, plus it’s involved in the development of a vaccine. And investors are noticing.
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Shares are up 60% since their March low and up 121% since the beginning of 2019.
Next up we have Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL, Rated “B”). Charles River offers a wide range of products and services that span the entire drug discovery and development continuum. These are key for successful drug, chemical and medical device development.
Our runner-up is Mettler-Toledo International Inc, (NYSE: MTD, Rated “B”). This company is a global manufacturer of precision instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications.
If you haven’t checked out the screener tool, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re interested in certain industries, or want to check stocks individually, you’ll be able to easily tell if your money will be at risk.
Best,
Kelly Green
