Health and Healthcare
Big Pharma Sees a Rising Tide in Short Interest
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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 actually can 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 January 31 short interest data have been compared with the previous figures, and short interest in most of these selected pharmaceutical stocks increased.
Short interest in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) grew to 61.03 million shares from the previous 56.97 million. The stock was trading at $38.09 Wednesday morning, within a 52-week range of $33.97 to $44.56.
The number of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) shares short increased to 25.33 million from 24.92 million in the previous period. Its shares were trading at $85.25, in a 52-week range of $72.23 to $92.64.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) saw its short interest rise to 63.72 million shares from the prior reading of 55.00 million. Shares traded at $66.99, in a 52-week trading range of $42.48 to $68.34.
The number of shares short in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) decreased to 74.74 million from the previous 76.68 million. The stock was trading at $96.00, and its 52-week range is $62.66 to $97.08.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE: LLY) short interest decreased to 12.57 million shares from the previous 12.98 million. The stock was trading at $144.25. The 52-week range is $101.36 to $147.87.
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