Pfizer is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in the United States. It is one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical corporations and ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 in 2023. The firm was founded in 1849 and is based in New York City. In 2018, Pfizer merged with the consumer division of GlaxoSmithKline, a British pharmaceutical company. Pfizer, whose ticker is PFE, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and has a market cap of more than $252 billion. A financial advisor can help you determine whether Pfizer can give your portfolio a boost and how much of your investments should be in pharmaceuticals.
How to Buy Pfizer Stock With a Brokerage Account
If you are interested in investing in Pfizer, the most straightforward way is to buy shares of the company through a brokerage account. You’ll need to know Pfizer’s ticker, which is PFE. The shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
There are two types of orders you can place to buy Pfizer shares: market orders and limit orders. If you place a market order, you’ll buy however many shares of Pfizer stock you wish to purchase at the current market price. If you place a limit order, you’ll set a maximum price per share you are willing to pay. Until the price dips to that level, the trade will not go through. It is also possible to buy fractional shares of PFE on some brokerages, meaning if you can’t afford a full share, you can still invest.
There are a number of online brokerages available. In addition to buying individual stocks like Pfizer, you can invest in bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investments using these brokerages. The chart below gives details on some of the major online brokerages, but take the time to look at the features and user experience for each to figure out which is best for you.
Comparison of Brokerage Accounts
| Brokerage Firm | Commissions | Minimum | Best For |
| Robinhood Read Review | None | None | – Mobile/online traders – Self-sufficient investors |
| Merrill Edge Read Review | Free stock, ETF and options trades | None | – Bank of America account holders – Customer support users |
| Charles Schwab Read Review | Free stock, ETF and options trades | None | – Sophisticated online traders – New investors who can afford to pay for assistance |
How to Buy Pfizer Stock Through Direct Investment
You can also buy Pfizer shares directly from the company. To do this, you’ll need to contact the company’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company. If you’re in North America, call Computershare at 1-800-733-9393 or send a letter to the following address:
Computershare Investor Services
P.O. Box 505000
Louisville, KY 40233
Make sure to include your name, address, daytime phone number, account number (if applicable) and company name as shown on your statement (if applicable.)
How to Buy Pfizer Stock With a Financial Advisor
Investing isn’t easy, and sometimes it makes sense to pay someone to help you make the best investment decisions for you and your family. You can hire a financial advisor who will make stock purchases for you, and who may be able to help with other financial decisions ranging from retirement planning to paying for college. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area. Once you’ve hired a financial advisor, all you need to do is tell him or her you want to invest in Pfizer. Your trusted advisor will handle all the details.
The market will change over the years, and shares of Pfizer will likely go up and down many times. If you have an advisor, the person will not only help you buy Pfizer stock, but also help you figure out when is the best time to sell it.
Company Overview of Pfizer
Some of Pfizer’s most well-known products include Lipitor (a cholesterol drug), Zoloft (an antidepressant), Viagra (which treats erectile dysfunction) and Lyrica (used to treat neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia). In 2020, Pfizer shot to the front of many minds by developing one of the main vaccines for COVID-19. As of 2022, it owned about 70% of the U.S. and European market for COVID-19 vaccines.
There are three main business divisions within Pfizer: Innovative Medicines, Established Medicines and Consumer Healthcare. Here is a breakdown of what each division does:
Innovative Medicines
- Biosimilars
- Hospital business
- Anti-infectives
- Sterile injectables
Established Medicines
- Off-patent solid oral dose medicines
Consumer Healthcare
- Over-the-counter medicines
Pfizer’s Stock Price and Quality
Pfizer is a huge company, one of the leading companies in one of the most lucrative industries around. It is generally considered a blue-chip stock, meaning it is a reliable investment from a company with a track record of success and stability. Also, Pfizer pays dividends, meaning that if the company performs well, money will be coming the way of investors each quarter for as long as they hold on to their shares. These dividends make Pfizer especially appealing to someone looking to execute the buy-and-hold strategy of investment – you can hold onto Pfizer shares for a long time, letting the value go up, and still collect income in the meantime.
As of January 2023, shares of Pfizer are selling for around $49 per share. Make sure to check out exactly how the stock has been performing lately before you decide whether or not to invest.
Is Pfizer Stock Right for You?
There is no easy answer as to whether or not buying Pfizer is a smart investment for you. Investing is a personal decision – what is good for you may not be good for another investor and vice versa. That said, Pfizer is in a lucrative business and is a company with a long track record, so it will be a good fit for many different portfolios.
No company is immune from risk and volatility, though. Keep in mind that just because Pfizer is doing well now doesn’t mean that you’ll see the returns you are counting on.
Tips to Become a Better Investor
- If you’re new to investing and want to make sure that you do it right, enlist the help of a professional. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. If you don’t have a financial advisor yet, finding one doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Investing can come with taxes, especially if you make good investments. Use SmartAsset’s capital gains calculator to see what you may end up owing.
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