DON7SPY
Industrial Engineer, MBA Finance, Data/Supply-Chain Background, Options Analysis
Merck has downside risk even as Moderna soared 176% today, with Wall Street analysts seeing the stock potentially as low as $105 a share. x.comÂ
Pfizer is a true safe haven that looks cheap at $28 a share, trading below 10 times adjusted earnings. Its 6.1% dividend has been paid for more than 349 quarters in a row, a remarkable record, and sentiment across biotech is strong after news from Moderna and Merck. x.comÂ
Merck looks cheap at 16x earnings when drugmakers usually get 20x. Fair value is roughly $168-214, or 20x next year's expected $9.57 EPS give or take 12%, putting the stock about 10% below the bottom of that range; it would be expensive above $215. The view leans on forecasts, with forward EPS 32% above trailing, and involves no fundamental work. x.comÂ
Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck look expensive given the market's optimism about their patent cliffs. Bristol Myers trades at 13x and Merck at 16x 2028 EV/FCF, versus Regeneron at 9.5x, which is ridiculous. As @PCM_bio notes, Opdivo loses exclusivity in 587 days and Bristol has done little to address that or its other patent expirations. x.com x.comÂ
Regeneron is ridiculously cheap at 9.5x 2028 EV to free cash flow, versus 13x for Bristol Myers Squibb and 16x for Merck. @PCM_bio counters that its pipeline is weaker than those peers', but Regeneron has only about a third of their revenue. x.com x.comÂ
Healthcare looks attractive as volatility has eased in recent weeks while inflows stay steady. Merck is the best-looking pharma play, pharma and biotech are favored, and the broad healthcare sector covers all the bases. x.comÂ
Significant discounts to broader pharmaceutical industry valuations on projected 2031 earnings make some high-quality mid-cap biotech stocks attractive. Many have cleared Phase 3 trials or reached more advanced stages, and some may reach profitability without more capital, an advantage if financing tightens. Selling these stocks to chase speculative biotech or large pharma at historically elevated multiples makes little sense. x.comÂ
Moderna's oncology franchise has been repriced by the Merck-partnered INTerpath-001 melanoma vaccine trial, a watershed moment. Argus upgraded the stock to Buy with a $180 target, noting shares remain more than 70% below their old highs, and Moderna closed an upsized $2.6 billion convertible note to fund oncology growth. The stock is consolidating in a tight pennant after its biggest gap up in years; a move above $156.13 targets $161.37, then $176.66. x.comÂ
AbbVie looks cheap at 16 times earnings, against the 20 times drugmakers usually get. Fair value is $285.91 to $363.89, based on 20 times next year's $16.25 a share give or take 12%, so the $261.83 price sits 8% below the low end; it turns expensive above $307.61. The range leans on forecasts, with forward earnings 60% above trailing. This is a levels-only read off reported earnings and estimates, with no fundamental work. x.comÂ