2 No-Brainer Healthcare Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

Core Viewpoint - The healthcare sector presents significant investment opportunities due to the increasing demand for healthcare products and services driven by aging populations. Two recommended stocks for investment are Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals holds a monopoly on cystic fibrosis therapies, marketing all five approved treatments, with its leading product Trikafta/Kaftrio generating $10.2 billion in sales last year [3] - The company is expanding its growth opportunities beyond cystic fibrosis, with the commercial launch of Casgevy for sickle cell disease and FDA approval for Journavx for acute pain [4] - Vertex's pipeline includes promising late-stage candidates for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and kidney diseases, as well as a potential cure for severe type 1 diabetes [5] - Vertex has a strong financial position with a cash reserve of$6.1 billion, enabling further expansion through acquisitions and partnerships [6] Pfizer - Pfizer's stock is priced around $472, allowing for the purchase of a share with remaining funds to buy a share of Pfizer [7] - The company offers a forward dividend yield of 6.64%, with expectations to maintain and grow this dividend over time, making it attractive for income and value investors [8] - Pfizer's shares trade at a low price-to-earnings ratio of 8.7 compared to the S&P 500 healthcare sector average of 17.8, and its PEG ratio is notably low at 0.18, suggesting better-than-expected growth prospects [9][10]