Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: Alcon, Novartis, Gilead Sciences, Biogen Idec and Acorda Therapeutics

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zacks.com releases the latest Industry Outlook. Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Big Pharma & Biotech Industry, including Alcon (NYSE: ACL), Novartis (NYSE: NVS), Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD), Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Acorda Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ACOR).

A synopsis of today’s Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/27081/Big+Pharma+and+Biotech.

In the pharma space, we are positive on stocks like Alcon (NYSE: ACL) and Novartis (NYSE: NVS). We believe these companies will continue witnessing revenue growth based on continued international penetration, new product launches and market share expansion. Pipeline expansion through in-licensing deals and acquisitions should also add to growth.

Novartis should see strong vaccine sales this flu season. The company has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its swine flu vaccine, which should drive revenues.

Although we have Neutral ratings on names like Johnson & Johnson and Abbott Labs, we maintain a positive outlook on these stocks given their diversified revenue base, strong business segments, contributions from recent acquisitions and impressive late-stage pipelines. We also have a positive outlook on Bristol-Myers, which has a strong presence in attractive areas like biologics, cancer and cardiovascular drugs.

In the biotech space, we are positive on names like Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) and Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) even though we have Neutral recommendations on these stocks. Gilead’s HIV franchise has been helping the company post better-than-expected earnings over the past few quarters and we expect this trend to continue.

Biotech companies that could be acquisition targets provide opportunities for significant returns. Here, we would like to mention two companies that could be potential take-out targets -- Biogen Idec and Acorda Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ACOR). In addition to holding a leading position in the multiple sclerosis market, we believe Biogen has the best pipeline in all of biotech and could be an attractive takeover candidate for pharma companies interested in biologics.

Meanwhile, Acorda is one of the more interesting biotechnology companies under our coverage. We have an Outperform rating on the stock. Acorda recently received a favorable recommendation from an FDA advisory panel on its key pipeline drug, Fampridine-SR, which could have blockbuster potential worldwide.

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