Best ASX pharmaceutical stocks | How to invest
The top performing pharma and medical stocks could be just what the doctor ordered for your portfolio.
Pharmaceutical stocks are companies that research and produce pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment.
While the industry is dominated by big names like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline — famous for blockbuster drugs netting over $US1 billion in annual sales, like Advair, Lipitor and Zoloft - there's plenty of competition.
There's numerous up-and-comers in the industry offering a spectrum of entry points for Australian investors, like livestock medicine manufacturer Zoetis or Neoleukin Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company that targets immunological disorders.
Best ASX pharmaceutical stocks
This is a list of the top pharmaceutical and health technology stocks on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), based on their performance so far in 2024 (and over the last 5 years). This list was last updated on 14 June 2024 using TradingView data.
1. Cynata Therapeutics Limited (ASX: CYP)
Year-to-date performance: 138.46%
5-year performance: -74.93%
2. LTR Pharma Limited (ASX: LTP)
Year-to-date performance: 123.19%
5-year performance: 120.00%
3. Cleo Diagnostics Limited (ASX: COV)
Year-to-date performance: 122.86%
5-year performance: 69.57%
4. Race Oncology Limited (ASX: RAC)
Year-to-date performance: 113.10%
5-year performance: 2,834.43%
5. Pharmaust Limited (ASX: PAA)
Year-to-date performance: 95.65%
5-year performance: 462.50%
How to invest in pharmaceutical stocks
There are a few main ways you can invest in or trade pharma stocks:
- Buy pharmaceutical stocks directly
- Invest in an ETF that includes pharma companies
- Trade futures or options
Regardless of how you choose to invest, you'll need to sign up with a broker or trading platform first:
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Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Pharma ETFs
If you'd prefer to invest in an index of pharma companies instead of individual shares, you have a couple of local and international options:
ASX pharma ETFs
- iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ)
- Vaneck Vectors Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH)
- Betashares Digital Health and Telemedicine ETF (ASX: EDOC)
Global pharma ETFs
- iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF (LON: HEAL)
- VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ: PPH)
- iShares US Pharmacueticals ETF (NYSEARCA: IHE)
- Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSEARCA: PJP)
Why invest in pharmaceutical stocks?
The global pharmaceutical industry is massive — and the US holds the largest slice of the market.
Pharma stocks also have the potential to outperform the broader market. For example, the SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF has outperformed the S&P 500 since its 2006 inception.
And if the potential for profit isn’t incentive enough, investors also have the opportunity to back potentially groundbreaking, life-saving medicine — medicine that they or a loved one may one day rely on.
Risks of investing in pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical stocks present a potentially lucrative investment opportunity but carry significant risks, including competition from generic drugmakers, product patent expirations and the substantial cost of research and development (R&D).
It’s estimated that pharmaceutical companies spend approximately 20% of their revenue on research and development.
Pharma companies also face steep competition from generic drugmakers attempting to undercut brand-name products with cheaper alternatives — especially for drugs with patent expirations on the horizon.
The industry is far from foolproof, and while pharma stocks could be a potentially profitable addition to your portfolio, make sure you understand the risks involved before you invest.
Bottom line
Pharma stocks offer Australian investors the opportunity to back groundbreaking drug research, but competition in this industry has the potential to threaten profits.
To invest in pharmaceutical companies, you’ll need a brokerage account. Compare your platform options to find the brokerage that fits your budget and investment goals needs.
Frequently asked questions
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