Is This Dividend Pharma Stock Going Against the Grain?

Despite losing patent protection for its blockbuster drug, Singulair, over the summer, pharma giant Merck's (NYSE: MRK  ) shares have appreciated 18% year to date, and the company has a slew of therapeutics in development. In addition, while some of the biggest players in the health care space -- including Pfizer  (NYSE: PFE  )  and Abbott  (NYSE: ABT  )  -- are spinning-out businesses, Merck doesn't look like it will be following suit.

In the following video, health care analysts Max Macaluso and Brenton Flynn discuss Merck's current strategy and give a helpful overview of the company's main growth drivers.

With the impending spinoff of its branded-drug business, Abbott Labs is losing a massive blockbuster drug in Humira. It's a confusing event to understand, with many investors left wondering what to do with these two stocks once they're separated. To help investors better understand the upcoming event, the Fool has created a brand new premium report outlining both Abbott Labs and its spinoff, AbbVie. Inside, we outline all of the must-know opportunities and risks facing both companies, so make sure to claim this 2-for-1 report by clicking here now.