Core Viewpoint - President Trump's trade policies, particularly aggressive tariffs on imports, are impacting Wall Street and could increase costs for companies, affecting their margins and stock performance. However, certain healthcare companies like Eli Lilly and Novartis present investment opportunities despite these challenges [1][2]. Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly has committed to investing $50 billion in U.S.-based manufacturing since 2020, with half of this announced in the first quarter [4]. - The company aims to manufacture 100% of medicines for U.S. patients domestically, which will help mitigate the impact of tariffs [5]. - Eli Lilly has shown significant innovation in diabetes and obesity treatments, with new products like Mounjaro and Zepbound generating billions in revenue [5]. - In Q1, Eli Lilly's revenue rose 45% year over year to $12.7 billion, and net income increased by 23% to $2.8 billion [6]. - The company has a strong pipeline, including a promising oral GLP-1 candidate, orforglipron, which could attract patients seeking convenience [7]. - Eli Lilly has increased its dividend payout by 102.7% over the past five years, making it a solid choice for growth and income investors [8]. Novartis - Novartis plans to invest $23 billion over the next five years to enhance its U.S. manufacturing capabilities [9]. - Despite potential short-term impacts from tariffs, Novartis is expected to manage these challenges effectively [10]. - In Q1, Novartis reported a 12% increase in net sales to $13.2 billion and a 22% rise in net income to $4.5 billion [10]. - The company is facing a loss of U.S. patent exclusivity for its heart failure drug Entresto, which generated $2.3 billion in sales in Q1, a 20% increase year over year [11]. - Novartis has prepared for this loss with new medicines like Fabhalta and cancer drugs Scemblix and Pluvicto, which have shown promising sales [11][12]. - The company has increased its dividend for 28 consecutive years, currently offering a forward yield of 3.3%, which is significantly higher than the S&P 500 average [13].
Industry-Wide Tariffs Loom Over the Healthcare Sector. Here Are 2 Stocks That Can Weather the Storm.