Top Biotech and Pharma Stocks to Bet on Cancer Cure & Control

Opinion about ONC-T: The technicals do not look good at all – with a decline lasting over the past two months. He would not touch this one at all. A 50 day moving average would be a buy signal if it can trade back above it.

Opinion about CXR-T: Likes turnarounds, but it’s not ready. Want to see two things: 1) the stock hitting a 52-week high, and 2) the numbers moving in the right direction. Don’t do anything until then. Odds are this is going to zero.

Opinion about MDX-X: Brazilian order? He owns warrants and his wife works as a consultant for them. They have orders for 500 units for a melanoma testing product. The delivery is subject to approval by authorities in Brazil. This could lead to hardware sales by June and revenues that begin to show up in Q4.…

Opinion about AMGN-Q: Beaten up a bit, as has the whole space by the Trump administration. Chart shows fantastic trend. Came off a bit, but finding its legs at the lower part of the channel. Hint: on a down day, what goes down less than the market is usually (not always) where the action might…

Opinion about CELG-Q: (A Top Pick Dec 03/18, Up 47%) Celgene had made a number of mis-steps, including management applying for multiple FDA approvals. One thing he really liked about the acquisition was the price it was bought. The acquisition by BMY helped them diversify and it seems to be going well.

Opinion about BMY-N: Has never been this cheap. Has high hopes for their new central nervous system drug; it if doesn't work, he will sell BMY.

Opinion about PFE-N: One of the most interesting stocks out there. One of the world's leading pharma companies. Still has a very strong research platform. Earnings have been improving due to cost-cutting. Will probably hit another homerun drug in the next few years. Yield is almost 7%, not in trouble. 

Opinion about ABBV-N: Impressed how company has dealt with patent cliff on Humira. Has skillfully filled in blanks with new drugs and acquisitions. 

Opinion about JNJ-N: Great year, so valuation has expanded. Shedding lower-growth businesses, focusing on medical devices and pharma. Those 2 areas are higher-margin businesses, so success would mean multiple could continue to expand. Legal overhang diminished.If you already own it, you can hold it for dividend growth and potential upside. If you don't own, buy…

Opinion about NVS-N: If the economy slows down, you need a good pharma stock. Novartis was stuck in a rut until the current CEO started in 2018. He made a number of key acquisitions without paying and including smaller companies (they had overpaid in the past), focusing on their most lucrative divisions: drugs to treat…

Opinion about GSK-N: Their vaccine division suffers from the general dismay over vaccines in the US (so does Merck), but accounts for only a third of its business. Ongoing trials could put them back in the race in drugs vs. peers. Expects the sentiment overhang to persist in vaccines.

Opinion about AZN-N: Has broad platform of diseases they treat. Trades around 15x PE and pays a 2% dividend yield. Shares are still snapping back from some news in China last year, so there's more room to recover.

Opinion about GILD-Q: He had owned it for 10 years at a time when it had a blockbuster drug that cured hepatitis. Gilead took profits and invested them into HIV drugs. As with other drug companies holding patents on blockbuster drugs with expiry dates, don't buy this one.

Opinion about REGN-Q: It's lost a third of its market cap and the selling is overdone. Now, is a buying opportunity.

Opinion about CRSP-Q: He sees this company mentioned in many science papers, but the stock has been a tough own. Overall, he likes it. Buy some now and more if it goes lower. How can this company keep losing money?

Opinion about VAR-N: (A Top Pick Aug 29/14. Up 2.34%.) Radiation therapy equipment for treating cancer. Have been affected a little by foreign exchange rates. These are big ticket purchases, so she expects purchases have been delayed, but she has seen this come back. On the emerging-market side, it is a little bit more challenging.…

Opinion about MRK-N: So many in the space look inexpensive on PE. These businesses are mature, with weaker product pipelines, but generate significant cash. Flipside is that they don't grow. Costs have really risen for all the FDA approval phases, making drug development so much harder.True, Canadians have to go to the US for healthcare…

Opinion about LLY-N: LLY vs. NVO Previously owned both, but sold out of NVO because it's more concentrated in the diabetes and weight loss space. Weight loss has come out of favour somewhat due to competition and generics. NVO's 200-day MA is falling, with stock price falling below that. Earnings growth only 6%. Long term…

Opinion about ABT-N: Medical devices are the one area he's been willing to be in. He likes ABT as a diversified medical device player. Another go-to name is ALC, which focuses on eye health.