Best Biotech Stocks Right Now

The post Best Biotech Stocks Right Now by Chetan Shekar appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

Biotech stocks are in the eye of the storm as the world recovers from the global pandemic. Government institutions and professional traders are banking on biotech stocks to continually develop a vaccine and boosters that can eradicate COVID-19. 

Tilt your stock portfolio toward biotech companies now and you could stand to make substantial profits in the near future. 

You can also find cost-effective stocks under $20 to trade daily on the stock exchange. 

Overview: Biotech Stocks

Biotech companies are a subsector of healthcare stocks that primarily focus on developing new drugs and treatments for medical conditions, diseases and viruses. The stock value and growth potential of a biotech firm depend on the type of diseases it treats. This might also include the research that the firm does as it supports other companies, diseases or treatments.

For instance, a biotech firm working on breast cancer treatments, which has nearly 300,000 new cases in the U.S. each year, might be more valuable than a company that is developing drugs for Ogilvie’s Syndrome, a rare disease that only affects 1%–3% of the population. 

Every new drug developed by biotech firms has to be submitted to the Food and Drug Association (FDA) for approval. Medical companies spend years developing a new drug but may fail to get it approved by the FDA. Some of these drugs will never hit the shelf of pharmaceuticals even after countless clinical trials. On the other hand, if a biotech company gets a new drug sanctioned by the FDA and the demand is high, the stock value can double or even triple overnight.  

Best Online Brokers for Biotech Stock

An online broker can help you trade biotech stocks with speed and precision. 

You can gain access to professional-level trading tools such as stock screens by opening an account on these platforms. Online brokers let you apply custom filters such as setting a price range to narrow down stocks under $10 within minutes. 

Explore these online brokers to get started today. 

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Best For

Active and Global Traders

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get started securely through Interactive Brokers’s website

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Best For

Active and Global Traders

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Interactive Brokers is a comprehensive trading platform that gives you access to a massive range of securities at affordable prices. You can buy assets from all around the world from the comfort of your home or office with access to over 150 global markets. Options, futures, forex and fund trading are also available, and most traders won’t pay a commission on any purchase or sale.  

IBKR is geared primarily toward experienced traders and investors but now with the availability of free trades with IBKR Lite, casual traders can also acclimate to IBKR’s offerings.

Best For

• Access to international markets
• Active traders
• Detailed mobile app that makes trading simple
• Wide range of available account types and tradeable assets

Pros

• IB SmartRouting provides significant price improvement vs. industry
• Fractional trading allows investing regardless of share price
• Industry’s lowest margin rates
• Earn more by lending your fuly-paid shares

Cons

• Beginner investors might prefer a broker that offers a bit more hand-holding and educational resources

Best For

Leveraged Trading

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get started securely through Plus500’s website

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Disclosure: 82% of retail accounts lose money

Best For

Leveraged Trading

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82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 is an online CFD broker focusing on contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are similar to binary options in the U.S. where traders take all-or-nothing speculation on the prices of certain securities like indices, commodities or currencies. While not legal to trade in the U.S., CFDs are legal in many jurisdictions across the globe and Plus500 offers a wide array of tradable markets using these instruments. 

Plus500 doesn’t charge commission and only profits off the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price of a specific security. But Plus500 is not a broker for beginners — the education materials are sparse and CFDs are risky derivatives capable of sapping out all of an investor’s capital. Only trade these instruments if you understand how they operate and the risks involved with buying them.

Best For

• Traders looking for a smooth mobile experience

Pros

• Great mobile app
• Low spreads and commissions
• Unlimited demo account

Cons

• Only derivatives are available
• Not open to U.S. residents

Best For

Trading Ideas

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get started securely through public.com’s website

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Trading Ideas

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Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

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get started securely through Robinhood’s website

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Commission-Free Mobile Trading

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Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

Best For

Active Short Sellers

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get started securely through TradeZero’s website

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Active Short Sellers

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1 Minute Review

TradeZero is an online broker and free stock trading platform that provides everything you need to successfully share and trade, including round-the-clock customer support. TradeZero provides four different trading state-of-the-art software programs with its services, a locator for sourcing shares for shorting, commission-free trades, and real-time streaming, to name a few of the features promoted on their website. The software is a unique and (potentially) affordable option for anyone interested in stock trading.

Best For

• Traders seeking high transparency and mobility in a stock trading program
• Those attracted to commission-free trades
• Those seeking a free version of a high-quality trading program

Pros

• 24/7 live customer support
• Uses ZeroWeb technology, a powerful level 2 online platform with direct market access
• Mobile app allows users to access stocks and trade in real-time while on the go

Cons

• Enforces Pattern Day Trading restrictions (accounts need to maintain a daily equity balance of at least $25k)
• Mobile app could offer more features

Features to Look for in Biotech Stock

• Earnings per share: You can determine the profitability of a company by its earnings per share (EPS). It is calculated by dividing the net income of the company by the total number of its outstanding shares.

• Price-earnings ratio: The price-earnings ratio (P/E ratio) is calculated by dividing the current stock price by its EPS. Based on the P/E ratio, you can assess if a stock is undervalued or overvalued. The lower the P/E ratio of the stock, the better an investment it is. Generally, penny stocks under $5 have the lowest P/E ratios. 

• Medical innovation: Biotech firms can spend years conducting clinical trials to test a new drug. Keep a constant watch on any news regarding medical breakthroughs and FDA approvals to make the most of your trade.   

• Relevancy: Apart from medical innovation, you need to invest in stocks that are relevant—and continue to remain relevant. Research specifically what these companies do, drugs they’re working on, therapies that they have created and how those ideas remain in the headlines, even if the company is rather old.

Be Patient for Better Profits

Advanced medical technology has led to longer and more fulfilling lives. An investment in biotech stocks involves longer buy-and-hold periods, but if you are patient with your trades, you can strike gold when you least expect it. Remember, the biotech industry can shift very quickly, like during the COVID-19 pandemic. Be patient, do the research and don’t be afraid to exit positions that might not work well for you. Every industry shifts at different times, and that’s why patience is so critical for investors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue reading: 

• BEST PHARMACEUTICAL STOCKS
• BEST BIOTECH PENNY STOCKS

The post Best Biotech Stocks Right Now by Chetan Shekar appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.