It’s a good day for Astrasenec (LSE: AZN) The price of shares, 5% on February 6, because investors give their thumbs to the whole 2024.

The largest British company still shows immunity and raise under the command of CEO Pascal Soriot. However, last year, trying to add pharmaceutical supplies to my portfolio FTSE 100 compete GSK. This may seem strange, considering that the second violin has been playing for years.

But I thought Astrazeneca was too costly while GSK looked better. So what do I think today?

This action did FTSE 100 proud

So far it was a lost plant. Astrazeneca has increased by 7% in the last 12 months, GSK has dropped by 15%.

Yesterday (5 February) GSK actions increased by 7.5% on positive results, but Astrazeneca does not take it. This morning (February 6) he recorded a 38% profit jump before taxation of up to USD 8.69 billion at a fixed exchange rate (26% real).

Soriot was ecstatic, Hello “Very good results in 2024 with total revenues and basic profits on the action (EPS) by 21% and 19%”. The sale of cancer, lung and immunology treatment was clearly vigorous.

He promised more when Astrazeneca appears “An unprecedented period rich in a catalyst for our company, which is an important step in our ambition in 2030 to ensure total revenues of USD 80 billion until the end of the decade”.

The most significant drug pipeline remains solid. Astrazeneca completed nine positive tests of the first phase III in 2024 and this year provides another seven.

Soriot cannot afford any slip. Actions now trade a stunning price -profit ratio of 65. It is much above the average FTSE 100 of only 15 times. GSK is low nine times,

To achieve this goal of 2030 ambition, Soriot must raise revenues from USD 54.1 billion in 2024 to USD 80 billion. According to my calculations, this is an raise of almost 7% per year.

It looks exceptionally feasible, taking into account the huge raise of 21% in 2024, but Astrazeneca will not continue to snap at this speed. He forecasts that sales raise will be released this year to a high one -digit percentage.

Strong growth, but low income

It also becomes problems in China. In October last year, the President of the Chinese business Astra and other higher management staff took place under the influence of unpaid import taxes in the amount of USD 900 million. It can be punished up to five times if it is considered responsible.

The message repeated the group’s capital of the group from 200 billion pounds to 170 billion pounds. Now there are harvests up to 181 billion pounds. October was a good time to buy.

Net debt increased in 2024, from USD 22.5 billion to USD 24.6 billion, because the group poured money for research and development. He continued to generate enough cash to raise the dividend, but the performance of the forecast by 2.2% is not exactly starred.

Another problem is that Astrazeneca generates 44% of its sales in the USA and can be affected by Donald Trump’s commercial wars or an anti-urbniga attitude by Secretary of Health Trump Robert F Kennedy.

The healthcare sector undoubtedly offers a huge opportunity when the world is aging and diseased, and medicine is more wonderful.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, says Astrazeneca remains “The preferred game in the sector, taking into account its prospects for the future“.

GSK has a lot to do, but taking into account lower expectations and a lower valuation (and higher performance 3.9%), it is still the one I keep.