A Few Dollars and Some Sense: Stocks to Hold Onto

Now, I’ve seen a good many booms and busts in my time, and I’ll tell you a thing or two. Folks are always lookin’ for a sure thing, a way to turn a few dollars into a fortune without liftin’ a finger. Well, that’s a fool’s errand, generally. But there’s a certain comfort to be found in the healthcare business, see. When the rest of the market’s doin’ the jig of despair, folks still need their medicine, and that keeps a body employable, and a stock… well, afloat.

It’s a peculiar thing, though. Some of these healthcare companies act more like those wildcat schemes out West – all flash and promise. Others are steady as a mule, pullin’ their weight without makin’ a fuss. A smart investor, a sensible one, likes to have a bit of both, balanced like a good plate of biscuits and gravy. Even with just a handful of dollars, a fella can manage that, if he’s got a mind to.

So, let’s say you’ve scraped together five hundred dollars. Not a king’s ransom, mind you, but enough to get you started. I’d suggest lookin’ at a company with a bit of pep in its step, and one that’s built to last. Two come to mind: Novo Nordisk and AbbVie. They’re a curious pair, these two, like a hummingbird and a tortoise.

Novo Nordisk: A Bit of a Racer

Now, Novo Nordisk, they’re one of those companies that’s got folks talkin’. They’re a Danish outfit, clever folks, makin’ medicines to help with weight and sugar. Seems everyone’s lookin’ for a quick fix these days, and they’ve got a couple of drugs – Wegovy and Ozempic – that are causin’ quite a stir. They’re sellin’ like hotcakes, I reckon.

Last year, their sales went up a respectable 7%, but the obesity care side of things? That jumped a good 26%. And they reckon it’ll keep on growin’, aimin’ for another 5% to 13% increase next year. They’re even gettin’ some money back from rebates, a clever bit of business, that. Some experts are predictin’ this whole weight-loss drug market could be worth a quarter of a billion dollars by 2034. That’s a heap of money, enough to make a fella’s head spin.

And the best part? The stock’s reasonably priced right now, trading at just 13 times its earnings. It’s like findin’ a good horse for a bargain price. You could pick up ten shares for around fifty dollars apiece with your five hundred. A sensible start, wouldn’t you say?

AbbVie: Steady as She Goes

Now, if you want somethin’ a little more reliable, a company that won’t leave you holdin’ the bag when the music stops, you might consider AbbVie. They spun off from Abbott Labs back in 2013, and they’ve been a steady performer ever since. They’re the kind of company that weathers the storms without much fuss.

Back in 2022, when the market was takin’ a tumble, AbbVie actually went up by 24%, while everyone else was losin’ their shirts. And they’ve been payin’ a dividend for the last thirteen years, steadily increasin’ it each time. Right now, you’re gettin’ a yield of 3.1%. That’s a decent return, enough to keep a body comfortable.

Over the last ten years, they’ve averaged a 20% total annual return, with the dividend reinvested. Not bad for a company that’s not tryin’ to reinvent the wheel. The stock is reasonably priced at 15 times forward earnings. They’ve also been movin’ beyond their older drugs to newer ones like Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are seein’ strong growth. Analysts reckon the price could rise 11% in the next year, to around $250 a share.

So, one share of AbbVie, and five or six of Novo Nordisk? That’s a solid start for five hundred dollars. It won’t make you a millionaire overnight, mind you, but it’s a sensible way to put your money to work. And in this world, a little bit of sense goes a long way.

2026-02-14 15:52

Novo Nordisk: A Bit of a Racer

AbbVie: Steady as She Goes

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