Health and Healthcare
Short Sellers Can't Make Up Their Minds on Major Pharma Stocks
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Pharmaceutical companies usually are involved in a lengthy process of getting their drug candidates to market through clinical trials. There is a fair amount of risk involved, should a study come back negative or a candidate not be approved. Conversely, if a drug gains FDA approval or passes a clinical trial, there can be big upside.
The White House has promised reforms in the health care sector, such as changing the bidding process for drugs and shortening the FDA approval process. It is yet to be seen how much headway it can actually make with these reforms.
Keep in mind that short sellers betting against big pharma are taking on an added risk. They have to pay out the ongoing high dividends on top of the cost of borrowing the shares.
The August 15 short interest data have been compared with the previous figures, and short interest in these selected pharmaceutical stocks was mixed.
Short interest in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) decreased to 52.19 million shares from the previous 54.66 million. The stock was last seen trading at $42.40, within a 52-week range of $33.20 to $42.77.
The number of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) shares short increased to 21.90 million from 18.33 million in the previous period. Its shares were trading at $69.04, in a 52-week range of $52.83 to $70.25.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s (NYSE: TEVA) short interest shrank to 36.07 million from the previous level of 37.24 million. Shares were trading at $23.02, in a 52-week range of $10.85 to $25.96.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) short interest rose to 13.37 million shares from the previous reading of 13.04 million. Shares were last seen at $59.97, in a 52-week range of $49.96 to $70.05.
The number of shares short in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) increased slightly to 32.58 million from the previous 32.50 million. The stock was trading at $97.40, and its 52-week range is $72.56 to $125.86.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE: LLY) short interest decreased to 14.20 million shares from the previous 14.99 million. The stock was trading at $105.77. The 52-week range is $73.69 to $106.38.
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