Actually, depression in this country is a very serious problem. In the United States, approximately 14 million adults per year are affected by depression; some sufferers try to work through it on their own and others turn to antidepressant drugs. According to the World Health Organization, depression causes the suffering of an estimated 121 million people throughout the world and is expected to become the second leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020. With these numbers, the demand for antidepressants is expected to grow significantly.
Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY), the world's largest maker and marketer of psychiatric medications, was the company that originally came out with Prozac, now off-patent. It now has the top selling drug, Cymbalta for treating depression. It is one of the most financially successful drug in history. Lilly has a price to earnings ratio of 16, provides a very generous yield of 3.4%.
Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX) has the drug Lexapro, also known as Cipralex which is an antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. The stock a very high PE of 83, and does not pay a dividend.
AstraZeneca plc (AZN) is a British-Sedish multinational company which makes Seroquel, an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, now off-patent. The company also markets Vivalan. The stock trades at ten times earnings, and pays a very high yield of 7.4%.
Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) produces Wellbutrin, used for the treatment of depression and seasonal affective disorder. It also has Paxil, also known as Seroxat, for depression. The stock has a PE of 17, and sports a high yield of 5.7%.
For a free list of major pharmaceutical companies, most of which pay dividends, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.
Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.
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