In the spirit of World Cup competition, we're holding our own tournament in search of the Better Stock Today. We're pitting 32 companies against each other, and you, the reader, will determine the winner.
Gilead Sciences takes on Amazon.com for this first round-robin match up in our search for the better stock today.
Motley Fool health-care analyst David Williamson makes the case for Gilead Sciences (GILD +0.09%) to win this matchup. He believes Gilead's Sovaldi will continue to beat analyst estimates and that its runaway success will continue. Estimated to do $1.4 billion in first-quarter sales, the instant blockbuster clocked in at $2.3 billion. Gilead already has an even better combo treatment in the works, and despite its high price tag, Gilead's future rivals don't appear willing to undercut its cost. With an estimated 150 million hepatitis-C cases worldwide, curing the disease will prove beneficial to humanity and Gilead shareholders.
Fool tech analyst Nathan Hamilton believes the No. 1 reason Amazon.com (AMZN +1.11%) should win this match is Amazon Prime. Prime is Amazon.com's subscription-based offering that aligns well with Amazon.com's strategy, where upfront profitability is sacrificed to create a user base that's both profitable and sticky in the long term.
According to a study conducted by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners in 2013, a Prime member spends $1,340 annually, roughly double the amount non-Prime members spend. As a result, free cash flow -- CEO Jeff Bezos' preferred gauge of fundamental performance -- benefits as the company generates a stable source of cash to reinvest in Amazon.com's R&D heavy initiatives. Investors will want to keep an eye on Prime, as it will be a key driver of shareholder value.
Vote here to determine the winner of this match, and sound off in the comments. Check back to Fool.com to see who advances in the tournament.
