Best Healthcare Sector Dividend Stocks

This is the first article of a dividends by sectors series, which will scout out the best quality companies in a given sector that pay greater than a 3% dividend yield. Within the healthcare industry, the big pharmaceutical companies offer the best yields. With relatively low costs outside of research and development, drug manufacturers are able to payout to shareholders by generating high margins. The tradeoff when investing in "Big Pharma" is limited earnings growth opportunity, as tighter regulations along with fewer breakthrough discoveries weigh down the industry. AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) - AstraZeneca is a British drug manufacturer that has a lineup of blockbuster drugs for a variety of ailments. The cardiovascular drug Crestor is the leading seller, accounting for 17% of revenues. The patent lasts until 2016. The company also has a large presence in gastrointestinal drugs (Prilosec and Nexium) along with respiratory and cancer related medicine. Growth is... Read more