AmerisourceBergen (ABC) saw its IBD SmartSelect Composite Rating jump to an excellent 96 Thursday, up from 93 the day before. The top-ranked drug distributor continues to put up strong profit and sales numbers as the huge, aging baby boomer cohort requires more medical attention, and Americans in general focus more on improving their health.
The new rating means AmerisourceBergen stock is outpacing 96% of all stocks when it comes to the most important stock-picking criteria. The market’s biggest winners often have a 95 or higher score in the early stages of a new price run, so that’s a good starting point when looking for the best stocks to buy and watch.
AmerisourceBergen Stock Popular With Institutional Investors
AmerisourceBergen distributes brand-name and generic drugs, over-the-counter health care products and home health care supplies. The company in November said it expects adjusted 2021 earnings of $10.50 to $10.80.
AmerisourceBergen stock is trading within the buy zone from a 129.64 entry from a cup without handle.
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AmerisourceBergen stock sports an 83 EPS Rating, meaning its recent quarterly and longer-term annual earnings growth tops 83% of all stocks.
The Accumulation/Distribution Rating of B for AmerisourceBergen stock shows moderate buying by institutional investors, such as mutual funds and company retirement funds, over the last 13 weeks.
In Q4, the Chesterbrook, Pa.-based company posted 26% earnings-per-share growth, to $2.39. That marks two straight reports with rising EPS gains. Revenue growth increased 20% to $58.9 billion, up from 18% in the prior quarter. Although that growth rate is not as strong as for some small, rising growth stocks, it’s excellent growth for as large a company as AmerisourceBergen. The company has now also posted increasing revenue growth in each of the last two quarters.
AmerisourceBergen stock holds the No. 1 rank among its peers in the Medical-Wholesale Drugs industry group. McKesson (MCK) and Owens & Minor (OMI) are also among the group’s highest-rated stocks.
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