GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK): Today's Featured Health Care Winner

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) pushed the Health Care sector higher today making it today's featured health care winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, GlaxoSmithKline rose 31 cents (0.7%) to $46.51 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.3 million shares of GlaxoSmithKline exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.3 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $46.17-$46.59 after having opened the day at $46.44 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $46.20. Other companies within the Health Care sector that increased today were: Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA), up 21.9%, Abaxis (ABAX), up 20.9%, IVAX Diagnostics (IVD), up 15.5%, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ), up 14.4%.

GlaxoSmithKline plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, over the counter (OTC) medicines, and health-related consumer products worldwide. GlaxoSmithKline has a market cap of $116.13 billion and is part of the drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.9, below the average drugs industry P/E ratio of 14.3 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are five analysts that rate GlaxoSmithKline a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates GlaxoSmithKline as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally poor debt management on most measures that we evaluated.

• You can view the full GlaxoSmithKline Ratings Report.

On the negative front, POZEN (POZN), down 19.3%, InterMune (ITMN), down 17.1%, Medgenics (MDGN), down 12.6%, and Dynacq Healthcare (DYII), down 10.4%, were all losers within the health care sector with Coventry Health Care (CVH) being today's health care sector loser.

• Use our health care section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on GlaxoSmithKline PLC click any of the following:

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Stock Price

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Analyst Ratings

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Key Stats & Profile

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Earnings

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Ratio Comparison

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Growth Rates

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Balance Sheet

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Cash Flow

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC Income Statement