If you are new to the stock market, it can be difficult to know where to start.
You may have heard of some big companies and wondered what they do or if they’re worth investing in.
Pfizer is a particularly interesting company because it has been around for quite some time and has had many ups and downs over the years.
It has also seen its share price fluctuate greatly over those same years.
This makes it an ideal candidate for investors who want to see their portfolio grow, but don’t necessarily need to invest in something with huge potential.
If you are interested in learning more about how to buy stocks in this particular company, keep reading!
What Is Pfizer?
Pfizer is one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world.
The company was founded in 1849 by German immigrant Paul Friedmann and his partner Charles Pfizer.
They started making medicines out of natural ingredients like opium and belladonna (a plant containing deadly nightshade).
By the 1880s, they were selling drugs under brand names such as Phenegran, Argyrol, and Tussin.
In addition to these products, they began producing vaccines and other medications.
Today, Pfizer sells prescription and non-prescription drugs, medical devices, animal health products, consumer healthcare products, and nutritional supplements. Their main business areas include:
- Pharmaceuticals – These include cholesterol-lowering Lipitor, antidepressant Effexor XR, erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, and blood pressure medicine Diovan.
- Consumer Healthcare Products – These include Advil Cold & Sinus, Benylin PMS Relief, Claritin, Excedrin Migraine, Pepto-Bismol, and Zyrtec.
- Animal Health Products – These include flea treatments Frontline Plus and Heartgard, and heartworm preventative Heartguard.
- Medical Devices – These include cardiac catheterization equipment Corindus, and surgical stents Boston Scientific.
The company employs approximately 64,000 people worldwide, including nearly 11,000 in the United States.
Why Is Pfizer Worth Investing In?
There are several reasons why investors should consider buying shares of Pfizer.
One reason is that the company has been around for so long. With a history dating back to 1849, Pfizer has already seen a lot of changes.
Another reason is that Pfizer is still growing.
Finally, Pfizer is a large multinational corporation. As such, it will continue to expand into new markets and offer innovative products.
How Do I Purchase Pfizer Stock?
If you would like to purchase stocks in Pfizer, there are two ways to go about doing it.
First, you could open up a brokerage account through a financial institution.
Second, you could use an online broker. Both options have pros and cons, so let’s take a look at them both.
Brokerage Accounts
A brokerage account is similar to a bank account. You deposit money into your account and then withdraw funds from it when you wish to spend the money.
Brokerages usually charge fees for using their services.
For example, you might pay $10 per trade or $20 per month for trading on margin.
There are also minimum balance requirements that you must meet before you can access certain features.
One advantage of opening a brokerage account is that you get direct access to all of the major stock exchanges.
This means that you don’t need to wait days or weeks to buy or sell stocks.
However, if you want to invest in small-cap companies, this may not be a good option for you because many brokers do not allow customers to trade penny stocks.
Another benefit of opening a brokerage account with a big-name firm is that you will likely receive personalized customer service.
If you run into any problems, you can call the firm directly instead of having to deal with a third party.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most brokerage firms require you to provide personal information.
This includes things like your Social Security number, date of birth, and address.
If you decide to open an account with one of these firms, be sure to read the fine print carefully.
Some firms will ask for more than just your basic information. They may request your driver’s license as well.
Finally, some brokerage accounts come with high minimum balances.
For example, Fidelity Investments requires its clients to maintain a minimum of $1 million in assets.
Online Brokers
An online broker works much like a traditional brokerage account. The only difference is that they operate over the internet.
Online brokers generally offer lower commissions than traditional brokerage firms.
Additionally, they often give you access to smaller-cap stocks. In fact, some online brokers even specialize in penny stocks.
The biggest drawback of using an online broker is that you won’t always have direct access to the major stock exchanges.
Many online brokers will work with other firms to connect you with the exchanges. This makes it difficult to execute trades quickly.
Also, since online brokers are relatively new, they tend to lack the resources of larger firms.
As such, they may not be able to help you with complicated issues.
If you decide to use an online broker, make sure to check out reviews of different firms.
This way, you can find out which ones are reputable and which ones aren’t.
Also, make sure to compare prices between different online brokers.
It’s important to shop around to ensure that you get the best price possible.
Final Thoughts
If you do make the decision to invest in Pfizer stock, there are several ways to go about it, as we have mentioned above!
Be sure to research each method thoroughly so that you know what you are getting yourself into.
Don’t let the fear of losing money prevent you from investing!
As long as you have done all the necessary due diligence and preparation, you should feel confident enough to put your hard-earned cash where it belongs: in the hands of a company that has been proven to produce profits year after year.
Especially one such as Pfizer that provides essential medical services.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you learn how to buy Pfizer stock. Good luck investing!
