High-Quality Healthcare Stocks Under $50
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 18 2026
0mins
Should l Buy PFE?
Source: Fool
- Pfizer's Outlook: Pfizer's stock trades around $27 with a P/E ratio of 9, significantly below the healthcare industry's average of 17.8; with a robust pipeline in oncology and chronic weight management, the company is poised for substantial clinical advancements over the next five years, likely improving financial performance and boosting sales.
- Novo Nordisk's Market Potential: Priced at approximately $39 with a P/E ratio of 10.4, Novo Nordisk stands to benefit from the rapidly expanding weight-loss market, positioning itself as a leader in anti-obesity products, which could yield significant returns for patient investors over the next five to ten years.
- Exelixis' Innovative Growth: Exelixis, trading at around $41, has carved a niche in oncology with its Cabometyx therapy, and is expected to report ongoing revenue and earnings growth while developing new drugs to address the patent cliff in 2030, showcasing strong market prospects.
- Attractiveness of Oncology Market: Exelixis's zanzalintinib has shown effectiveness in treating metastatic colorectal cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death globally; given this market's potential, the company is likely to enhance its competitiveness through new product transformations.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy PFE?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on PFE
Wall Street analysts forecast PFE stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
11 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 27.040
Low
24.00
Averages
28.56
High
35.00
Current: 27.040
Low
24.00
Averages
28.56
High
35.00
About PFE
Pfizer Inc. is a research-based, global biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. Its Biopharma segment includes the Pfizer U.S. Commercial Division, and the Pfizer International Commercial Division. Its product categories include oncology, primary care and specialty care. Its oncology products include Ibrance, Xtandi, Padcev, Adcetris, Inlyta, Lorbrena, Bosulif, Tukysa, Braftovi, Mektovi, Orgovyx, Elrexfio, Tivdak and Talzenna. Its primary care products include Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, the Prevnar family, Comirnaty, Abrysvo, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, Nimenrix, Trumenba, and Paxlovid. Its specialty care products include Xeljanz, Enbrel (outside the United States and Canada), Inflectra, Abrilada, Cibinqo, Litfulo, Eucrisa, Velsipity, the Vyndaqel family, Genotropin, and others. Its PF-08653944 is an ultra-long-acting fully biased GLP-1 receptor agonist.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Pharma Stocks Pfizer and GSK Provide Safe Investment Options Amid Market Uncertainty: Charts
Pharmaceutical Stocks in Focus: Investors are increasingly interested in pharmaceutical stocks as a stable investment option amid market uncertainty.
Market Volatility Impact: The sector is gaining attention due to its steady demand and resilient earnings, which are less affected by economic fluctuations.
See More
Eli Lilly's AI Investment: Implications for Its Stock Performance.
Eli Lilly's AI Integration: Eli Lilly is positioning itself as a leader in the healthcare industry's integration of artificial intelligence, indicating it has been proactive in this area.
Industry Response: The healthcare sector is currently working to adopt AI technologies, highlighting a broader trend towards innovation in medical practices.
See More
Pfizer Quickly Shifts Strategy After GLP-1 Drug Setback
- Drug Development Setback: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, facing pressure from upcoming patent expirations, which negatively impacted investor confidence as it fell behind competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in this emerging drug niche.
- Strong Market Demand: Despite Pfizer's setback, the demand for GLP-1 drugs remains robust, with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound achieving revenue growth of 99% and 175% respectively in 2025, highlighting the significant potential in this market segment.
- Rapid Strategic Shift: Following the abandonment of its own drug, Pfizer quickly acquired a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate, closing the deal in November 2025, demonstrating its agility and adaptability in drug development.
- Long-Term Investment Potential: Although Pfizer's market value has dropped about 50% from its 2021 highs, its $150 billion market cap and a 6.2% dividend yield continue to attract long-term investors, with management committed to maintaining the dividend, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects.
See More
Pfizer's Rapid Pivot in Response to Challenges
- Setback in GLP-1 Development: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, resulting in a significant setback as it falls behind competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in an emerging drug niche.
- Strong Market Demand: Despite Pfizer's challenges, Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound saw revenue growth of 99% and 175% respectively in 2025, highlighting the robust demand and competitive pressure in this market.
- Rapid Acquisition of New Candidate: Pfizer quickly pivoted by acquiring a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate in November 2025, demonstrating its agility in response to setbacks, even as its market cap declined to $150 billion.
- Stable Dividend Policy: With a dividend yield of 6.2% and a payout ratio exceeding 100%, Pfizer's management intends to maintain its dividend, indicating its appeal to long-term investors despite facing short-term pressures.
See More
Pfizer's Strategic Shift in GLP-1 Drug Development
- Drug Development Setback: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, which significantly hampered its competitive position in the emerging drug niche, especially as competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly reported revenue growth of 99% and 175% for their GLP-1 drugs, respectively.
- Rapid Strategic Shift: Less than a year after dropping its own drug, Pfizer quickly pivoted by acquiring a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate in November 2025, demonstrating its agility in the GLP-1 market despite looming patent expirations.
- Stable Market Position: Despite a 50% decline in value from its 2021 highs, Pfizer maintains a market capitalization of $150 billion, showcasing its resilience as an industry giant capable of navigating the typical fluctuations of the pharmaceutical sector.
- Long-Term Investment Potential: With a dividend yield of 6.2% and a payout ratio exceeding 100%, Pfizer's management has committed to maintaining its dividend, making it a potential consideration for long-term investors seeking stable returns from this industry leader.
See More
Viking Therapeutics: A Dark Horse in the GLP-1 Market
- Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, presenting a significant growth opportunity for Viking Therapeutics and its VK2735 candidate, especially with the potential launch of an oral version.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The injectable version of VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version completed phase 2 trials last year with highly promising initial results, laying a solid foundation for future commercialization.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking could become a takeover target in the biotech sector, with acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current $4 billion market cap, reflecting strong market expectations for its future.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: Viking's stock presents a binary risk, where the success or failure of VK2735 will directly impact its share price; despite the high risks, the potential rewards are equally substantial, necessitating careful position sizing by investors to navigate possible volatility.
See More
Pharma Stocks Pfizer and GSK Provide Safe Investment Options Amid Market Uncertainty: Charts
Pharmaceutical Stocks in Focus: Investors are increasingly interested in pharmaceutical stocks as a stable investment option amid market uncertainty.
Market Volatility Impact: The sector is gaining attention due to its steady demand and resilient earnings, which are less affected by economic fluctuations.
See More
Eli Lilly's AI Investment: Implications for Its Stock Performance.
Eli Lilly's AI Integration: Eli Lilly is positioning itself as a leader in the healthcare industry's integration of artificial intelligence, indicating it has been proactive in this area.
Industry Response: The healthcare sector is currently working to adopt AI technologies, highlighting a broader trend towards innovation in medical practices.
See More
Pfizer Quickly Shifts Strategy After GLP-1 Drug Setback
- Drug Development Setback: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, facing pressure from upcoming patent expirations, which negatively impacted investor confidence as it fell behind competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in this emerging drug niche.
- Strong Market Demand: Despite Pfizer's setback, the demand for GLP-1 drugs remains robust, with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound achieving revenue growth of 99% and 175% respectively in 2025, highlighting the significant potential in this market segment.
- Rapid Strategic Shift: Following the abandonment of its own drug, Pfizer quickly acquired a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate, closing the deal in November 2025, demonstrating its agility and adaptability in drug development.
- Long-Term Investment Potential: Although Pfizer's market value has dropped about 50% from its 2021 highs, its $150 billion market cap and a 6.2% dividend yield continue to attract long-term investors, with management committed to maintaining the dividend, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects.
See More
Pfizer's Rapid Pivot in Response to Challenges
- Setback in GLP-1 Development: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, resulting in a significant setback as it falls behind competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in an emerging drug niche.
- Strong Market Demand: Despite Pfizer's challenges, Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound saw revenue growth of 99% and 175% respectively in 2025, highlighting the robust demand and competitive pressure in this market.
- Rapid Acquisition of New Candidate: Pfizer quickly pivoted by acquiring a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate in November 2025, demonstrating its agility in response to setbacks, even as its market cap declined to $150 billion.
- Stable Dividend Policy: With a dividend yield of 6.2% and a payout ratio exceeding 100%, Pfizer's management intends to maintain its dividend, indicating its appeal to long-term investors despite facing short-term pressures.
See More
Pfizer's Strategic Shift in GLP-1 Drug Development
- Drug Development Setback: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, which significantly hampered its competitive position in the emerging drug niche, especially as competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly reported revenue growth of 99% and 175% for their GLP-1 drugs, respectively.
- Rapid Strategic Shift: Less than a year after dropping its own drug, Pfizer quickly pivoted by acquiring a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate in November 2025, demonstrating its agility in the GLP-1 market despite looming patent expirations.
- Stable Market Position: Despite a 50% decline in value from its 2021 highs, Pfizer maintains a market capitalization of $150 billion, showcasing its resilience as an industry giant capable of navigating the typical fluctuations of the pharmaceutical sector.
- Long-Term Investment Potential: With a dividend yield of 6.2% and a payout ratio exceeding 100%, Pfizer's management has committed to maintaining its dividend, making it a potential consideration for long-term investors seeking stable returns from this industry leader.
See More
Viking Therapeutics: A Dark Horse in the GLP-1 Market
- Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, presenting a significant growth opportunity for Viking Therapeutics and its VK2735 candidate, especially with the potential launch of an oral version.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The injectable version of VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version completed phase 2 trials last year with highly promising initial results, laying a solid foundation for future commercialization.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking could become a takeover target in the biotech sector, with acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current $4 billion market cap, reflecting strong market expectations for its future.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: Viking's stock presents a binary risk, where the success or failure of VK2735 will directly impact its share price; despite the high risks, the potential rewards are equally substantial, necessitating careful position sizing by investors to navigate possible volatility.
See More
