Assessing Novartis’s Performance in October So Far

Novartis (NVS) is a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of a broad range of healthcare products.

The company reports its business in three segments: Innovative Medicines, Sandoz (the generics business), and Alcon (the eye care business).

The above chart compares the stock performances of Novartis and its peers in 2018.

Novartis’s ADR (American depositary receipt) has fallen ~1.0% to date in October, while it’s risen nearly 3.3% in the last month.

Novartis’s ADR has also reported a marginal fall of ~0.2% over the last 12 months and a rise of 1.5% year-to-date in 2018.

However, analysts’ estimates show that the stock’s price could rise ~15.2% over the next 12 months. Analysts’ recommendations show a 12-month target price of $98.50 per share compared to its last price of $85.26 on October 8.

Novartis’s peers include pharmaceutical companies Merck & Co. (MRK), Eli Lilly and Company (LLY), and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Merck & Co.’s stock price has risen ~0.3% to date in October, while its price has risen nearly 3.5% in the last month.

Eli Lilly’s stock price has risen ~7.2% to date in October, while its stock price has risen nearly 8.8% in the last month.

GlaxoSmithKline’s ADR (GSK) has fallen ~0.9% to date in October, while it’s fallen nearly 0.8% in the last month.

The Invesco International Dividend Achievers ETF (PID) holds 1.9% of its total investments in Novartis’s ADR.