Analyst upgrades AmerisourceBergen, deems company top drug distributor

NEW YORK Boasting more than 3,600 Good Neighbor Pharmacy banners under its independent network has helped push AmerisourceBergen ahead of its wholesaler competitors, prompting a Goldman Sachs analyst to name ABC his top pick among pharmaceutical distribution companies on Friday, according to an Associated Press report.

Because of that large network of independents, Goldman Sachs’ Robert Jones believes ABC stands to benefit the most from the number of generic drugs that will enter the marketplace over the next few years. Jones suggested ABC would get a “larger boost than its competitors” because the wholesaler has greater exposure across its independent affiliates as compared with its pharmacy chain customers.

Jones kept a "Buy" rating on AmerisourceBergen, with a price target of $35 per share, while downgrading Cardinal Health to "Neutral" from "Buy" and maintaining a "Neutral" rating on McKesson Corp, the AP reported.