2 Forever Pharma Stocks to Buy Now

Patients need access to medicine to treat or manage serious health conditions, no matter what state the economy is in. Drugs are effectively a recession-proof business. As a result, most pharmaceutical stocks have proven steady and some have even thrived, amid the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the SPDR S&P Pharmaceutical Index is down by 3.94% this year, the business of medicine is here to stay.

Picking the right stocks in a sector that has little chance of disappearing will pay off in the long run. Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) are two top pharma companies worth consideration by excited investors. Merck hasn't performed well recently, with its shares down by approximately 9% since the year started. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly's stock is up by over 14% in the same period. Despite moving in opposite directions on the market, here's why you may consider parking both stocks in your portfolio for good.