Biotech stocks are not for the faint of heart or the easily discouraged.
Biotech companies focus on developing new medicines to better people’s health and quality of life. The success of these stocks’ therapies in both FDA clinical trials and real-world applications contributes to their high volatility, which manifests itself in large price swings.
When taken as a whole, biotech stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 on times, but they have also lagged on other occasions.
There have been little shifts in the performance of the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) as of the current year, 2023.
The S&P 500, on the other hand, has seen a significant growth of over 17% during the same period. But it’s important to remember that the IBB beat the S&P 500 by a factor of more than three to one between 2012 and 2015.
The difference between stagnation and extraordinary outperformance can be found in the biotech stocks that are chosen.
This article lists the top-performing biotech stocks to help you improve your investment portfolio. These companies have seen rising revenues and confident growth forecasts.
If you want to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, which is what i specialize in, you can email me (advice@adamfayed.com) or use WhatsApp (+44-7393-450-837).
Nothing written here is financial advice.
We don’t advise holding individual stocks. ETFs and funds are a better option.
This article merely looks at some of the better options.
What are Biotech Stocks
Biotech stocks are ownership shares in firms that produce pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other biological goods that are traded on public exchanges.
In common parlance, “biotech” is synonymous with “pharma.” Biotechnology originates from live organisms, while medications originate from chemicals.
However, the stock market doesn’t care about that nuance. Put simply, “biotech stocks” and “pharma stocks” refer to shares in pharmaceutical corporations.
Below, we’ll compare the best biotech stocks from an investment perspective.
Benefits of Investing in Biotech Stocks
Biotech stocks have the potential to yield substantial financial gains, however, they also carry a certain degree of risk.
The industry’s stringent regulatory framework gives rise to a distinct array of advantages and disadvantages for investors.
In the year 2021, the most recent year for which data is accessible, healthcare expenditure was 18.3% of the United States’ gross domestic product.
The percentage has experienced an increase of nearly 100% within the last five decades.
The biotechnology industry represents the forefront of the healthcare sector, as it is responsible for the advancement and creation of novel healthcare products.
Small-cap biotech stocks have the potential to generate substantial wealth gains. Investors who purchased shares in Moderna five years ago have experienced a significant multiplication of their initial investment.
This serves as an illustration of the potential capital benefits that may arise from investments in early-stage biotechnology companies that successfully obtain drug approval.
Dividends are frequently paid by biotechnology companies with large market capitalization. Established biotechnology companies typically possess multiple strong sources of income and frequently exhibit profitability, resulting in the distribution of dividends to their stakeholders.
Certain companies, such as AbbVie, possess the esteemed distinction of being classified as dividend aristocrats.
Private banking clients often seek opportunities in the healthcare sector, and the best biotech stocks can be an attractive addition to their portfolios.
Risks of Investing in Biotech Stocks
To a large extent, the success or failure of a biotechnology product depends on the decision made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Investors need a solid grounding in science literacy to effectively navigate regulatory concerns.
Individual investors in biotech stocks would do well to acquire the knowledge to decipher clinical trial data and to keep meticulous records of all relevant announcement dates.
Low market cap biotech stocks are notoriously volatile and rarely reward investors with dividends. Small-cap biotech firms may not be profitable until their first drug is approved for sale, and many companies in this industry may never generate income at all.
As a result, their stock prices tend to be highly volatile, moving both up and down depending on the results of clinical trials and regulatory decisions. Dividends are not paid if there are no profits to distribute.
The primary motivation of biotechnology companies is profit, which means that there is a risk that your money will not go toward developing new medicines.
To increase their wealth, some people have artificially inflated the prices of life-sustaining drugs.
What are the Best Biotech Stocks
Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)
On the NASDAQ stock market, the biotechnology company Moderna, Inc., which has its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, trades with the ticker code MRNA.
According to Healthline, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) has been successful in developing a COVID-19 immunization that has demonstrated a significant efficacy rate of 95% in minimizing the poor effects that are associated with the condition.
As a result of an anticipated increase of COVID-19 patients during September 2023, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) has changed its revenue forecasts for the second half of 2023.
The current projections for the company’s revenue indicate that it will fall somewhere in the range of $6 billion to $8 billion.
The additional execution of a share repurchase program with a total value of $600 million by the corporation took place during the second quarter of 2023.
This comment gives the impression that the management of Moderna, Inc. believes that the stock of the company, which trades under the symbol NASDAQ:MRNA, is now valued below its intrinsic value.
At the end of the most recent financial quarter, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) had a cash balance of $14 billion and a long-term debt amount that amounted to $1.7 billion.
By following the link that has been provided to you, you will be able to read the transcript of the earnings call that the company held for the second quarter of 2023.
Investment funds are increasingly allocating capital to the biotechnology sector, with a focus on the best biotech stocks for potential long-term growth.
Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ:ZLAB)
Zai Lab Limited, which operates under the ticker symbol NASDAQ:ZLAB and has its headquarters in Shanghai, China, is a biopharmaceutical company whose major mission is to distribute novel pharmaceutical goods to markets outside of China as well as within China.
Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ:ZLAB), which is involved in the licensing or acquisition of late-stage drug candidates from Western biopharmaceutical companies, then goes on to develop and commercialize such prospects within the Greater China region, is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ.
The company has been granted permission to produce pharmaceuticals such as Zejula (niraparib) for the treatment of ovarian cancer and Optune for the treatment of glioblastoma.
These medications were licensed from GSK and Novocure, respectively. Zai Lab Limited, which trades under the ticker symbol ZLAB on the NASDAQ, boasts a varied portfolio that includes pharmaceutical substances targeting infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.
In uncertain economic times, investors often turn to the best defensive stocks, but the best biotech stocks can offer growth potential even in such market conditions.
Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)
Royalty Pharma plc is a biotechnology company that has its headquarters in New York City. Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol RPRX.
Since its founding in 1996, this company has acquired pharmaceutical royalties and the development of innovative finance techniques for the life sciences industry its primary areas of concentration.
Royalty Pharma Plc, which trades under the ticker symbol RPRX on the stock market, has a unique business model that focuses on the generation of royalties rather than investing in activities related to drug research.
Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) and Ascendis Pharma A/S (NASDAQ:ASND) completed the execution of a royalty funding agreement on September 5 with a total value of $150 million.
This partnership was formed to facilitate the research, development, and eventual commercialization of a human growth hormone that is specifically indicated for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.
During the second quarter of 2023, a total of 32 different hedge funds revealed their ownership of shares in Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX). This was out of a total of 910 hedge funds that were included.
While consumer staples and discretionary stocks have their appeal, the best biotech stocks can diversify a portfolio and offer compelling growth prospects.
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:RARE)
The biotechnology company Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., with its headquarters in Novato, California, was founded in 2010 with the primary mission of discovering therapeutic interventions for rare or ultra-rare genetic illnesses.
Crysvita (burosumab), the company’s primary medication, was granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States in 2018 for the therapeutic management of X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), a rare hereditary bone disorder.
This was a significant achievement for Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:RARE), the company that developed Crysvita.
An analyst at Morgan Stanley named Jeffrey Hung produced a research note for investors on the 4th of August. In the study, he maintained an Overweight rating for shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:RARE) and reaffirmed a target price of $95.
When constructing a well-rounded portfolio, considering a mix of assets, including the best consumer discretionary and biotech stocks, can help balance risk and potential returns.
Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:CYTK)
Cytokinetics, Incorporated is a biotechnology company that was founded in 1997 and currently has its headquarters in San Francisco, California.
It is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CYTK. The primary goal of the company is to concentrate on the research and development of muscle activators and muscle inhibitors in the hopes of one day providing therapeutic interventions for diseases that are incapacitating.
On August 15, SVB Securities began coverage on the shares of Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:CYTK), at which time they assigned the stock an Outperform rating and set a target price of $58.
The analyst underlined that Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:CYTK) is now engaged in the development of several therapeutic approaches that are focused on addressing the needs associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
The prevalence of the ailment is experiencing tremendous development inside the United States, which is placing a significant burden on the healthcare system as a result.
Denali Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:DNLI)
San Francisco, California is home to the headquarters of Denali Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company that is now in the clinical testing phase (NASDAQ:DNLI).
The year 2018 marked the organization’s debut on public stock markets, and its major mission is to promote therapeutic solutions for neurodegenerative illnesses.
The key candidates that Denali Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:DNLI) is working on developing include small molecule inhibitors that target LRRK2 kinase for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and antibodies that precisely bind to TREM2 for the management of Alzheimer’s disease.
Both of these diseases are afflicted with neurodegenerative disorders. The treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy, amongst other ailments, is the primary focus of several pipeline programs.
Analysts have a positive outlook on Denali Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:DNLI) as a result of the extensive pipeline that the company maintains, which positions it as a leading competitor among biotech stocks.
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDGL)
Founded in 2011, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc., also known by its stock ticker symbol MDGL, is a company that operates out of West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and has its headquarters there.
The non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) drug that is being developed by the biotechnology company has entered the clinical testing phase at this point.
The FDA has designated Resmetirom, a notable pharmaceutical product that the company offers, as a Breakthrough Therapy for the treatment of NASH. This honour was bestowed upon Resmetirom because of its potential to significantly improve patient outcomes.
In a document that was sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the hedge fund that John Paulson manages, Paulson & Co., disclosed that they will begin a new investment in Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDGL) in the second quarter of 2023.
This information was provided by the hedge fund in response to a question posed by the SEC. A significant increase in the hedge fund’s holdings of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDGL) was one of the most recent portfolio revisions the fund made.
Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HRMY)
An initial public offering (IPO) was held by the biotechnology company Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. in August 2020.
The company’s headquarters are located in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. The primary mission of the organization is to advance and eventually commercialize treatments to treat rare neurological disorders.
Wakix (pitolisant) is the major offering from Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRMY), and it was granted approval by the FDA in 2019 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in adult patients who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy.
Pitolisant is currently being developed by Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRMY) for a wide variety of possible indications, including Prader-Willi illness and juvenile narcolepsy.
Pitolisant was granted the classification of an orphan medication by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 5.
The best biotech stocks that have the greatest potential for significant gains include Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTLA), Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRMY), Denali Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNLI), and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARWR).
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA)
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that has its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its stock ticker symbol is NASDAQ:NTLA. Nessan Bermingham was the one who initiated the venture in the year 2014.
The primary focus of the company, which is now in the clinical testing phase, is on the application of CRISPR technology to advance the development of curative medicines.
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), a biopharmaceutical company, is working on a therapeutic intervention called NTLA-2001.
This intervention is intended to treat a condition known as transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. This represents the very first time that a CRISPR therapeutic candidate that is administered systemically is participating in clinical studies.
Additional investigations in the pipeline include editing candidates targeting autoimmune disorders, cancer immunotherapies, and hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) has developed a unique editing platform that is centred on the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and holds a wide variety of intellectual property assets. These assets include a patent portfolio.
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARWR)
RNA interference (RNAi) treatments are being actively developed by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company with headquarters in Pasadena, California.
These therapeutics are being developed to treat rare diseases.
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARWR) is the owner of a platform that is protected by a patent and is known as Targeted RNAi Molecule (TRiM).
This platform was developed to enable tissue-specific targeting. Experts believe that the company has developed strong contacts and offers a compelling portfolio in the field of RNA interference (RNAi).
Additionally, the company has a strong presence in the field. Taking into account the company’s current pace of capital expenditure, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARWR) has a runway that is equivalent to three and a half years, even though it has incurred operational losses.
By the year 2025, the business intends to have a total of 20 products in either the clinical stage or on the market.
Final Thoughts
Opening a brokerage account is a must for investing in biotech stocks and biotech ETFs. The next step is to decide whether you want to invest directly in equities or through a fund.
In theory, stock investors can achieve better returns than market indices like the S&P 500 by purchasing individual stocks.
Over the past year, many of the stocks included in the table above have outperformed the market.
However, as we’ve covered, not all biotech stocks make it to the point of selling a product, and it might take a lot of legwork to determine which ones do.
Limiting the proportion of a portfolio that is invested in individual equities to no more than 10% is a frequent method for reducing exposure to volatility.
Pained by financial indecision? Want to invest with Adam?
Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters, with over 760.2 million answer views on Quora.com, a widely sold book on Amazon, and a contributor on Forbes.
