7 Biotech and Health Care Stocks to Buy

There’s more to health care than just cold and flu season. Making up the pharmaceutical industry are biotechnology companies that do research and development on medicines for serious illnesses, manufacture ways to treat various diseases and are involved in everything from neurology to hematology.

Adding a little health care to your portfolio is a must because the baby boomer generation will be relying on it in historical quantities in the coming years — the health care industry is expected to grow by an average of 5.8% per year through 2020.

I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I’ve got seven biotech and health care stocks to buy.

Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets an �A� or �B� according to my research, meaning it is a �strong buy� or �buy.�

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALXN) is involved with hematology, nephrology, neurology, ophthalmology and cancer treatments. Since the start of 2011, ALXN stock is up 78%, compared to a gain of just 6% for the Dow Jones. ALXN stock gets an �A� for sales growth, an �A� for earnings growth, an �A� for earnings momentum, an �A� for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, an �A� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month and a �B� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of ALXN stock.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) discovers, develops, manufactures and markets medicines for serious illnesses. AMGN stock has gained 17% year-to-date. AMGN stock gets a �B� for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a �B� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month, a �B� for cash flow and a �B� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of AMGN stock.

Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:BIIB) develops treatments for neurological disorders and other serious diseases. Since the start of 2011, BIIB stock has jumped 66%. BIIB stock gets a �B� for earnings growth, a �B� for earnings momentum, a �B� for cash flow and an �A� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of BIIB stock.

Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) is a globally integrated biopharmaceutical company. In the past 12 months, CELG stock has outpaced the broader markets with a gain of 15%. CELG stock gets an �A� for sales growth, an �A� for earnings momentum, a �B� for earnings growth, an �A� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month, a �B� for cash flow and an �A� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of CELG stock.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) is another biopharmaceutical company worth mentioning, with its 10% return year-to-date. GILD gets a �B� for earnings momentum, an �A� for cash flow and an �A� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of GILD stock.

Pharmasset Inc. (NASDAQ:VRUS) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company and the big winner on this list. VRUS has posted an astronomical gain of almost 470% in 2011. VRUS gets a �B� for earnings momentum in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of VRUS stock.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) is involved with the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of serious medical conditions. REGN rounds out the list with a gain of 70% year-to-date. REGN gets an �A� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of REGN stock.

Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis Navellier�s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.