Biotech Bull Market: Key Trend #1 Five Large Cap Biopharmas Plus 2

Two Large Cap Pharmas Are Now Biotech Stocks: Abbvie, Inc. (ABBV) and Bristol -Myers Squibb (BMY)

On our last post on the subject we postulated a model that the bull market in biotechnology would ride with the large cap leaders because they are perceived as growth stocks in growing markets : AMGN BIIB CELG GILD REGN. For comparison we will add two large cap pharmas that have products and pipelines making them biopharmaceutical companies, plus they pay a dividend: ABBV BMY. Abbvie (ABBV) is the spinoff biopharmaceutical company from Abbott Labs with the $6B blockbuster drug Humira (R). Bristol-Myers has evolved over the years through R&D and licensing from its core products to a pipeline in oncology, immunology  and virology therapeutic areas.

Below find key metrics for these seven large cap biopharmaceutical companies. We will update and provide information on key areas for growth in 2014 after their 2013 financial reporting. Some key points on this model going forward are:

• Price to Sales ratios of well known “biotech” companies are much higher anticipating growth in 2014.
• PEs are less important right now than top line growth. PE expansion is expected.
• Celgene (CELG) and Abbvie (ABBV) stocks are laggards in the 2014. The  sector (IBB) is up 10%+ YTD.
• Amgen (AMGN) is a more mature biopharma company grown through R&D and M&A.
• Roche (RHHBY) is by far the largest broad based drug and diagnostic Company with a market cap of $236B.

Note: AMGN, BIIB, GILD, and REGN have been on our focus list for four years.