Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (WPI): Today's Featured Drugs Winner

Watson Pharmaceuticals (WPI) pushed the Drugs industry higher today making it today's featured drugs winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.6%. By the end of trading, Watson Pharmaceuticals rose 70 cents (1%) to $71.72 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 3.7 million shares of Watson Pharmaceuticals exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.2 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $71.38-$73.30 after having opened the day at $72.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $71.02. Other companies within the Drugs industry that increased today were: Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company (AXN), up 26.8%, Amyris (AMRS), up 20.7%, Horizon Pharma (HZNP), up 18%, and Alexza Pharmaceuticals (ALXA), up 16.4%.

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Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and distribution of generic and brand pharmaceutical products in the United States, western Europe, Canada, Australasia, Asia, South America, and South Africa. Watson Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $8.86 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 32.6, above the average drugs industry P/E ratio of 32.5 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 15.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 15 analysts that rate Watson Pharmaceuticals a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Watson Pharmaceuticals as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full Watson Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Ventrus Biosciences (VTUS), down 59%, Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA), down 22.4%, K-V Pharmaceutical Company (KV.A), down 15.4%, and Impax Laboratories (IPXL), down 11.6%, were all losers within the drugs industry with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) being today's drugs industry loser.

• Use our drugs section to find industry-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 drugs industry could consider SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) while those bearish on the drugs industry could consider ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotech (BIS).

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

For more information on Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. click any of the following:

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Stock Price

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Earnings

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Growth Rates

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Balance Sheet

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Cash Flow

• Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. Income Statement