Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, biotech giant Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Amgen's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Amgen facts

Headquarters (founded) Thousand Oaks, Calif. (1980)
Market Cap $54.0 billion
Industry Biotechnology
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $15.6 billion
Management Chairman/CEO Kevin Sharer (since 2000)
COO Robert Bradway (since 2010)
Return on Equity (average, past 3 years) 19.4%
Cash/Debt $20.6 billion / $21.4 billion
Dividend Yield 2.1%
Competitors Johnson & Johnson
Novartis AG
Sanofi

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 92% of the 2,129 members who have rated Amgen believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.  

Earlier this month, one of those Fools, All-Star Staka, weighed the stock's pros and cons for our community:

Positive:
- Cash generator
- High margins
- Pays a dividend (just introduced it)
- Biotech might be the next big growth story (over the coming decade) although I'm not sure if Amgen will be an important part of this story

Negative:
- Slow growth
- Huge debt
- Insiders sell everything they are allowed to sell at the moment they get it

If you want to retire rich, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future. Of course, despite a strong four-star rating, Amgen may not be your top choice.

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