Core Viewpoint - The pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Merck have underperformed in 2023, facing financial challenges and upcoming patent cliffs, leading to uncertainty in their medium-term outlooks. The article compares both companies to determine which presents a better investment opportunity heading into the new year. Pfizer - Pfizer's Eliquis, a leading blood thinner, is approaching patent expiration, which could exacerbate its already slow revenue and earnings growth [3] - The company has expanded its pipeline through internal efforts, acquisitions, and licensing deals, launching new products that are expected to impact financial results positively in the future [4] - Notable pipeline candidates include MET-097i, a promising weight loss drug with fewer side effects and a long-acting dosing schedule, and PF-4404, a cancer therapy that could become a standard treatment for certain cancers [5][7] - Pfizer is also implementing cost-cutting measures and has secured a deal with the White House to be exempt from tariffs for three years, which may help improve its margins and bottom line [8] Merck - Merck's sales from its HPV vaccines, Gardasil and Gardasil 9, have declined due to lower sales in China, and its best-selling cancer drug Keytruda faces a patent cliff by 2028 [9] - The company has introduced a new subcutaneous version of Keytruda, which offers a more convenient administration method and is expected to mitigate sales losses from biosimilars [10] - Merck's pipeline includes successful products like Winrevair for pulmonary arterial hypertension and Capvaxive, a pneumonia vaccine, both of which are expected to generate significant revenue [12][13] - An acquisition that adds CD388 to its pipeline could potentially transform the influenza vaccine market, indicating strong future prospects for Merck [13] Investment Comparison - Both Pfizer and Merck are considered viable long-term investment options, but Merck is viewed as the stronger choice due to better financial results and a more developed plan to address challenges [14][16] - Merck's higher profit margins and faster dividend growth over the past decade make it more attractive for dividend-seeking investors, despite Pfizer's higher forward dividend yield [17]

Core Insights - Pfizer's stock has declined approximately 3% this week following the announcement of its financial guidance for 2026, which did not meet investor expectations [1] Financial Guidance - Pfizer anticipates total revenues for 2026 to be between $59.5 billion and $62.5 billion, reflecting modest growth from the revised 2025 revenue expectation of around $62 billion, primarily due to lower revenues from COVID products and the impending patent cliff [2] - The company expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.80 to $3.00 for 2026, a decline from the 2025 expected range of $3.00 to $3.15, influenced by the dilutive impact of recent deals and lower COVID revenues [3] Oncology Segment - Pfizer holds a strong position in oncology, with oncology sales accounting for approximately 28% of total revenues, which have increased by 7% in the first nine months of 2025 [4][5] - The company is advancing its oncology pipeline and expects to have eight or more blockbuster oncology medicines by 2030 [5] Product Development and Acquisitions - Pfizer is focusing on expanding its product labels and has in-licensed rights for new oncology treatments, including a dual PD-1 and VEGF inhibitor [6][7] - The company has reduced its dependence on COVID-related revenues, with non-COVID operational revenues improving due to key products and new acquisitions, which are expected to deliver double-digit growth in 2026 [8][9] Challenges and Headwinds - Pfizer is facing a significant revenue impact from the loss of exclusivity for several key products between 2026 and 2030, which is projected to reduce sales by approximately $1.5 billion in 2026 [15] - The company is also experiencing lower sales of COVID products due to decreased vaccination and infection rates, with expected COVID revenues around $5 billion in 2026, down from $6.5 billion in 2025 [12][14] Stock Performance and Valuation - Pfizer's stock has underperformed compared to the industry and the S&P 500, losing 4.9% year-to-date [17] - The stock is currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 8.04, significantly lower than the industry average of 17.11 and its five-year mean of 10.41, indicating potential attractiveness for investors [20] Future Outlook - Despite current challenges, Pfizer's key drugs and new product launches are expected to help offset losses from patent expirations, with anticipated cost savings of $7.7 billion by the end of 2027 [26] - The company is viewed as a hold in investment portfolios as it rebuilds its pipeline in oncology and obesity, which could drive growth from 2029 onwards [27]

If I am a Pfizer Inc. ( PFE ) investor (I used to be, nonetheless), I should have been "elated" at PFE's recent performance against the market, while still gettingJR Research is an opportunistic investor. He was recognized by TipRanks as a Top Analyst. He was also recognized by Seeking Alpha as a "Top Analyst To Follow" for Technology, Software, and Internet, as well as for Growth and GARP. He identifies attractive risk/reward opportunities supported by robust price action to potentially generate alpha well ...

Italian bank UniCredit said on Friday it had issued its first tokenised structured note for private investors, a week after issuing its first tokenised minibond together with state lender Cassa Deposi... ...

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce new agreements on Friday (December 19) aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, the White House said. The announcement is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at the White House.AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and Merck are among the major pharmaceutical companies expected to participate, Reuters reporting citing sources familiar with the matter.Swiss drugmakers Novartis and Roche are also reportedly part of the deals, according to Bloomberg News.Backgr ...

We recently published 12 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar.  Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer's radar. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)’s shares are down by 5.90% year-to-date, and December has been a tumultuous month for them. On Tuesday, the stock dipped by 5.2% after the firm released its full-year 2026 guidance. The figures saw Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) forecast 2026 revenue to range between $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion and profit per share between $2.80 and $3. Both of these were below LSEG ...

Core Insights - US core inflation unexpectedly eased to a four-year low, raising questions among economists about the reliability of the data due to a prior government shutdown [8][14] - ByteDance has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in the US with majority ownership by American investors [8][14] Market Performance - The A-share market opened lower but closed higher, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 0.16% at 3876.37 points, while the Shenzhen Component fell 1.29% and the ChiNext Index dropped 2.17% [1] - The Hong Kong market also saw fluctuations, with the Hang Seng Index closing up 0.12% at 25498.13 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.73% [1][5] Economic Indicators - The US core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% year-on-year in November, while the overall CPI increased by 2.7% [14] - The report indicated that core CPI only increased by 0.2% over the last two months, with declines in hotel, leisure, and clothing prices limiting the overall increase [14] Corporate Developments - TikTok announced the establishment of a joint venture with US investors, which will operate independently and manage US data protection and algorithm security [8][14] - China has reportedly ordered 7 million tons of US soybeans, achieving over half of the procurement target set during the Trump administration [8][14]

The stocks listed here trade at forward earnings multiples of less than 18.Valuations for many stocks are sky-high, and that can make now an unappealing time to invest in the stock market. However, there are still some great value buys that don't involve taking on a lot of risk or investing in unknown companies.Three of the best bargains you can buy today come from the healthcare sector. AstraZeneca (AZN +0.83%), CVS Health (CVS 0.13%), and Pfizer (PFE +0.04%) are all trading at incredibly low valuations wi ...

Key Points Eli Lilly has been a dominant force in the GLP-1 market, and that looks set to continue. Pfizer's acquisitions haven't paid off yet and the company is still struggling to grow its sales. The two companies are currently in very different positions -- and their valuations reflect it. 10 stocks we like better than Pfizer › Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) are two prominent names in healthcare that have focused on innovation and growing their respective businesses for decades. ...

In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive business world, it is vital for investors and industry enthusiasts to carefully assess companies. In this article, we will perform a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) against its key competitors in the Pharmaceuticals industry. By analyzing important financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.Pfizer Backg ...