Biotechnology, Gene-editing and Medical Research Stocks to Buy in 2019

The medical space has been a hot sector these past few years, and have widely outperformed the market. These sectors are defensive as they are not tied to an economic cycle. Furthermore, medical, biotech and gene-editing firms will profit from the aging population and growing need for these services and drugs.

Recently, the sector has pulled back due to promises by the US government to lower drug prices and further regulate the sector. However, it seems analysts are still bullish for the sector. The next election cycle will be a key turning point for these stocks.

👩‍⚕️ Biotechnology & Medical Research

Canada Stocks

Resverlogix Corp. (RVX-T)
A clinical biotechnology company that develops epigenetic drugs that treats neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. They are currently paying down debt.

Resverlogix Corp. (RVX-T) — Stockchase

Opinion about RVX-T: (Market Call Minute.)Reversing of bad cholesterol in clinical studies. A little early for him but has potential. Speculative.

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Spectral Med Inc (EDT-T)
A multinational company that specializes in endotoxin activity assay (EAA) diagnostic and therapy services. The EAA diagnostic product is their main revenue driver.

Spectral Med Inc (EDT-T) — Stockchase

Opinion about EDT-T: There is nothing more powerful than a base breakout, and this had one in February of this year. This one is on a trend line right now and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the chart.

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Microbix Biosystems (MBX-T)
A biomedical testing company that saw earnings up 40% last quarter. They are increasing capacity and is trading at a reasonable PE. Robert McWhirter choses it as a top pick in May.

Microbix Biosystems (MBX-T) — Stockchase

Opinion about MBX-T: Very positive on the stock price, the company, and the partnerships they're announcing. Technicals indicate the stock may head toward 90 cents, but he says higher. Just won a contract from the Ontario government. Covid testing isn't going away. Sales should triple in the next 12 months.

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Reliq Health Techniques (RHT-X)
A software as a service solution company for remote patient monitoring, telemedicine and collaborative care. The stock experienced a pullback but it is starting to recover due to their long-term potential.

Reliq Health Techniques (RHT-X) — Stockchase

Opinion about RHT-X: Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research We would not expect much here; the stock has not traded in Canada in more than a year, and in the US it trades at a tiny fraction of a penny. It has posted a couple of announcements on its website this…

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Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. (NEPT-T)
A nutrition products company that focuses on unique nutrition solutions with specialty ingredients. They are shifting their focus from krill oil extraction to cannabis oil.

Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. (NEPT-T) — Stockchase

Opinion about NEPT-T: Doesn't know this well. They're in the cannabis sector, more in the extraction market, an area that will continue to expand. He's watching their progress in earnings.

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U.S.Stocks

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP-Q)
A small cap company that develops gene medication. They recently closed a deal with a pharma company that will help scale their products.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP-Q) — Stockchase

Opinion about CRSP-Q: He sees this company mentioned in many science papers, but the stock has been a tough own. Overall, he likes it. Buy some now and more if it goes lower. How can this company keep losing money?

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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN-Q)
A biotech company. That has several core products generating good free cash flow. Their partners include Sanofi to treat severe asthma. Paul MacDonald chose it as a Top Pick in July.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN-Q) — Stockchase

Opinion about REGN-Q: It's lost a third of its market cap and the selling is overdone. Now, is a buying opportunity.

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First Trust Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT-N)
An investment fund that corresponds to the NYSE Arca Biotechnology IndexSM. It tracks the performance of small, mid and large cap companies in the biotech industry.

First Trust Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about FBT-N: (A Top Pick May 8/17. Up 11.02%.) The period of seasonal strength for this is usually early May right through until the middle of July. We have reached the point where seasonality no longer applies. Now is a good time to take the money off the table.

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Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD-Q)
A pharmaceutical company that produces high priced drugs for hepatitis C and HIV. It trades at less than 9 times earnings with a 4% yield.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD-Q) — Stockchase

Opinion about GILD-Q: He had owned it for 10 years at a time when it had a blockbuster drug that cured hepatitis. Gilead took profits and invested them into HIV drugs. As with other drug companies holding patents on blockbuster drugs with expiry dates, don't buy this one.

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Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer Inc (PFE-N)
An American pharmaceutical corporation that produces a variety of well known drugs. The seasonal weakness is in mid-October. It is currently consolidating and is sure to appreciate in the near future.

Pfizer Inc (PFE-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about PFE-N: It can bottom here. He believes in their Seagen acquisition.

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Biogen IDEC Inc. (BIIB-Q)
A multinational biotechnology company that treats neurodegenerative diseases using innovative techniques. This was dragged down along with the whole sector. They experienced a pullback after they closed an Alzheimer study that caught the market by surprise.

Biogen IDEC Inc. (BIIB-Q) — Stockchase

Opinion about BIIB-Q: Not impressed with products. Competitors out performing. 

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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY-N)
A large cap American pharma company that produces prescription drugs for several therapeutic areas. Their latest drugs haven’t done as well as hoped. They are currently in discussion to merge with CELG-Q.

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about BMY-N: RFK Jr is a wild card as head of the US health department. They have huge oncology franchise, but face a huge patent cliff. But they have a some promising drugs. He owns this partly for the 5.6% dividend. He took shares off the table when the stock spiked earlier this year,…

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Novartis AG (NVS-N)
One of the largest multinational Swiss pharmaceutical company. They are refocusing on generic drugs and have sold their ophthalmology business.

Novartis AG (NVS-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about NVS-N: If the economy slows down, you need a good pharma stock. Novartis was stuck in a rut until the current CEO started in 2018. He made a number of key acquisitions without paying and including smaller companies (they had overpaid in the past), focusing on their most lucrative divisions: drugs to treat…

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Amgen Inc. (AMGN-Q)
A biopharmaceutical company that is the world’s largest independent biotech firm. It is considered the preeminent biotech companies with some good drugs. It trades at a 11x earning which is considered reasonable.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN-Q) — Stockchase

Opinion about AMGN-Q: Phase 2 drug in the GLP-1 space -- not as mature as LLY's drug, but you don't pay as much for this company either. Trades ~14x earnings, compared to 50x for LLY. And that's more his style of investing.

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Mylan Inc (MYL-Q)
A global generic and specialty pharmaceuticals company. This is the company that produces Epi Pens. Analysts are uncertain since there is a lot of headwinds on pricing and government intervention.

Mylan Inc (MYL-Q) — Stockchase

Opinion about MYL-Q: TEVA-N vs. MYL-Q. He does not like either at these prices. They are both generics manufacturers. There are lots of headwinds on pricing in these categories. We have had a lot of noise on pricing of pharmaceuticals. The FDA is going to alleviate the delays on getting new drugs to market. He…

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Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY-N)
A global pharma company that recently made an acquisition in oncology. They recently had one of their popular drugs withdrawn. They outperformed in 2018 Q4 and they have potential blockbuster diabetes and heart disease drugs in the pipeline.

Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about LLY-N: Data just released says that LLY's weight-loss drug is far better than peer Novo Nordisk. Buy this hand over fist.

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Medical Equipment, Supplies & Distribution

Medtronic Inc (MDT-N)
The maker of the first pacemaker and several other similar devices. They are starting to enter emerging markets such as India and Bangladesh where there is a need for these devices. Michael Decter chose this as a top pick on October 2, 2019.

Medtronic Inc (MDT-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about MDT-N: They report Wednesday. Likes it, but the stock is inconsistent, even if their numbers are strong.

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Baxter International Inc (BAX-N)
A Fortune 500 health care company. The dividend is very high though current valuations are quite rich. They are focusing on new product developments that generates good growth.

Baxter International Inc (BAX-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about BAX-N: They fell into trouble a few years ago when they bought Hillrom, a healthcare company, which did not work. BAX took on a lot of debt and the deal was a bust. The rise of the weight-loss drugs has made a big impact on BAX's business. They have debt problems.

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Abbott Labs (ABT-N)
A multinational diversified healthcare company. It hasn’t been impacted by the focus on drug pricing. It sells generic dugs to emerging markets. They also have a great track record of dividend increases with a yield of 1.5%

Abbott Labs (ABT-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about ABT-N: Their forward PE suggests an explosion, coming from their diabetes device, Libra. A fine CEO who will settle their lawsuits. Is up 17% this year.

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Becton Dickinson (BDX-N)
A medtech company that manufactures medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. It is in medical supplies, not drugs, and supplies primarily to hospitals. A product under FDA review has made the price pull back. They have a good record of dividend appreciation and have opportunities ahead. Barry Schwartz chose it as a top pick on June 24, 2019.

Becton Dickinson (BDX-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about BDX-N: They just reported a disappointing quarter, plunging shares 18%. Many are giving up on it, but it's a buying opportunity. For decades, this was a reliable growth stock, but in the past 5 years have been sideways. They reported beats and raises last year. They sold their life sciences division to unlock…

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Stryker Corp. (SYK-N)
A Fortune 500 medtech firm. They are a leader in robotic surgery and have great organic growth. It is as defensive name since it is not tied to the economic cycle.

Stryker Corp. (SYK-N) — Stockchase

Opinion about SYK-N: (A Top Pick Apr 10/24, Up 0.48%) Down along with the market. About 73% of revenues from US; rest is from other parts of the world, so lots of growth internationally. Very strong demographic play. Great company.

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Alpha Pro Tech (APT-A)
A company that has a building supplies business and hospital protection business. Whenever there is a pandemic scare, this company takes off. If there is another scare, this will do well.

Alpha Pro Tech (APT-A) — Stockchase

Opinion about APT-A: This is funny in terms of a long-term outlook. They have a buildings supplies business, and the hospital protection business. Whenever there is a pandemic in the works, this company takes off. It has been moving around $4 per share, and thinks it could go a fair bit higher. He would like…

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