Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link. All three major indices are trading up today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading up 34 points (0.2%) at 16,464 as of Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, 12:55 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 2,014 issues advancing vs. 970 declining with 140 unchanged. The Drugs industry currently sits up 0.3% versus the S&P 500, which is up 0.4%. Top gainers within the industry include Jazz Pharmaceuticals ( JAZZ), up 9.1%, Alexion Pharmaceuticals ( ALXN), up 1.4% and Gilead ( GILD), up 0.6%. On the negative front, top decliners within the industry include Perrigo ( PRGO), down 4.0%, Actavis ( ACT), down 3.7%, AstraZeneca ( AZN), down 2.0% and GlaxoSmithKline ( GSK), down 0.6%. TheStreet would like to highlight 3 stocks pushing the industry higher today: 3. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International ( VRX) is one of the companies pushing the Drugs industry higher today. As of noon trading, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International is up $2.01 (1.8%) to $112.67 on average volume. Thus far, 2.3 million shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.2 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $109.04-$112.85 after having opened the day at $109.75 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $110.66. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter (OTC) products, and medical devices in the areas of eye health, dermatology, and neurology therapeutic classes worldwide. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has a market cap of $39.2 billion and is part of the health care sector. Shares are down 0.5% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 9 analysts who rate Valeant Pharmaceuticals International a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 2 rate it a hold. TheStreet Ratings rates Valeant Pharmaceuticals International as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance and increase in net income. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the growth in the company's earnings per share has not been good. Get the full Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Ratings Report now. 3x UPSIDE POTENTIAL: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.
2. As of noon trading, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company ( BMY) is up $0.53 (1.1%) to $49.89 on light volume. Thus far, 2.4 million shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 8.5 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $49.06-$49.89 after having opened the day at $49.22 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $49.36. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has a market cap of $82.9 billion and is part of the health care sector. Shares are down 6.0% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 9 analysts who rate Bristol-Myers Squibb Company a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 7 rate it a hold. TheStreet Ratings rates Bristol-Myers Squibb Company as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Ratings Report now. 3x UPSIDE POTENTIAL: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.
1. As of noon trading, Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ) is up $0.72 (0.7%) to $100.54 on average volume. Thus far, 3.5 million shares of Johnson & Johnson exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6.2 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $99.60-$100.83 after having opened the day at $99.69 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $99.82. Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. Johnson & Johnson has a market cap of $282.5 billion and is part of the health care sector. Shares are up 9.4% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 7 analysts who rate Johnson & Johnson a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 8 rate it a hold. TheStreet Ratings rates Johnson & Johnson as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, increase in stock price during the past year and expanding profit margins. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook. Get the full Johnson & Johnson Ratings Report now. 3x UPSIDE POTENTIAL: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. If you are interested in one of these 3 stocks, 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).
