Pfizer Inc (PFE): Today's Featured Drugs Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Pfizer (PFE) pushed the Drugs industry higher today making it today's featured drugs winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, Pfizer rose 42 cents (1.7%) to $24.67 on average volume. Throughout the day, 29 million shares of Pfizer exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 28.8 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $24.15-$24.69 after having opened the day at $24.23 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $24.25. Other companies within the Drugs industry that increased today were: Vermillion (VRML), up 39.5%, TrovaGene (TROV), up 20.2%, PharmAthene (PIP), up 17.9%, and Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX), up 17.3%.

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Pfizer Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of medicines for people and animals worldwide. Pfizer has a market cap of $180.27 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 19, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 13.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 13 analysts that rate Pfizer a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and two rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Pfizer as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Pfizer Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Telik (TELK), down 14.8%, Idera Pharmaceuticals (IDRA), down 12.5%, Oxygen Biotherapeutics (OXBT), down 10.3%, and Zalicus (ZLCS), down 8.9%, were all laggards within the drugs industry with Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) being today's drugs industry laggard.

• 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.

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For more information on Pfizer Inc click any of the following:

• Pfizer Inc Stock Price

• Pfizer Inc Analyst Ratings

• Pfizer Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Pfizer Inc Earnings

• Pfizer Inc Ratio Comparison

• Pfizer Inc Growth Rates

• Pfizer Inc Balance Sheet

• Pfizer Inc Cash Flow

• Pfizer Inc Income Statement