If you’d invested in: Dechra Pharmaceuticals and Shire
Dechra Pharmaceuticals is a drugs company that specialises in the development of medical treatments for pets. Over the next three years, the firm’s earnings per share is expected to more than double.
If only...
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (LSE: DPH) is a drugs company that specialises in the development of medical treatments for pets. Pet ownership is on the rise around the globe, as is spending on those pets, so Dechra is operating in a booming market.
Over the next three years, the firm's earnings per share is expected to more than double. Over the same time period, revenue is predicted to grow from £359m to £465m; profit, from £26m to £57m.
Be glad you didn't
Shire (LSE: SHP) is a biotechnology group with treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and inflammatory bowel disease, among others. It has suffered from problems in the production of one of its best-selling drugs, Cinryze. Despite this, the firm has posted a 7% rise in sales to £3.7bn in the quarter to the end of September. Management is considering splitting the firm in two so it can focus more on developing medicines for rare diseases.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Sign up for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Alice grew up in Stockholm and studied at the University of the Arts London, where she gained a first-class BA in Journalism. She has written for several publications in Stockholm and London, and joined MoneyWeek in 2017.
-
Billions of pounds languishing in low interest accounts as savings rates slashed
Savers are being urged to act as billions of pounds earn paltry interest rates. It comes as interest rates on variable savings accounts have fallen to their lowest levels since 2023.
By Daniel Hilton Published
-
Review: Cali, Mykonos – salute the sun in Greece
Chris Carter engages in a sunset ritual of his own at Cali on the Greek island of Mykonos
By Chris Carter Published
-
Shire: a tempting buy-out bet
Features Pharmaceuticals firm Shire is set to be taken over – but it’s cheap even if the deal fails.
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
Three stocks to profit from the boom in pharma M&A
Opinion Ailsa Craig picks three stocks that should capitalise on the M&A trend in the pharmaceutical sector, either as potential targets or as well-established acquirers of other rivals.
By Ailsa Craig Published
-
Pocket some grey pounds – three healthcare stocks to buy now
Opinion The ageing population is an opportunity for the health and medical sector. Here, professional investor Garry White picks three healthcare stocks to buy now.
By Garry White Published
-
UK stocks ahead as investor shrug off fresh oil price drop
Market Reports Investors have shrugged off concerns over the falling price of oil this morning ahead of the release of US earnings data.
By Kam Patel Published