Thanks to technology, the average citizen in the developed world has a better living standard than any time before.
Advances in healthcare have increased life expectancy considerably.
Advances in manufacturing techniques have increased the amount of goods produced in the world by leaps and bounds.
Advances in telecommunications and computing have increased happiness and utility around the world.
There’s more tech advances coming.
In the future, nanobots injected into the bloodstream could target cancers more effectively, reducing side effects.
3D printing and cheap energy could produce high quality and more plentiful goods faster.
Quantum technology will bring a ‘supercomputer’ into every home, unlocking potentially revolutionary applications.
Technology doesn’t only improve consumer’s lives, it can also unlock substantial wealth for investors. It’s no secret that many of today’s largest and best performing companies are tech giants like Facebook, which wasn’t even around two decades ago.
For those investors who missed out before, there’s more opportunities in the future.
The advancement of technology is the ultimate secular trend. Many believe the rate of tech advancement will accelerate, meaning potentially even more wealth creation for tech companies and tech investors.
In terms of FTSE-listed companies, AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) is well positioned to capture some of the advancement of technology’s benefits. Here’s more.
How to profit from AstraZeneca shares
In terms of technology, AstraZeneca is one of the world leaders in healthcare.
The company has a world-class R&D division with substantial resources and a wide ranging portfolio of leading drugs targeting oncology, cardiology, renal, and respiratory diseases. Some of AstraZeneca’s drugs like Tagrisso are legitimate blockbusters, with 2019 revenue of $3.189 billion and sales growth of 71% year on year. Many others have a lot of potential.
Due to tech advancements, AstraZeneca has done really well financially. For the first half of 2020, AstraZeneca’s sales rose 14% with new medicines driving much of the growth. The market has also acknowledged AstraZeneca’s progress. Over the past five years, AstraZeneca has created a lot of wealth, with its stock almost doubling.
Over the next five years, AstraZeneca has more potential upside financially and in terms of its stock price.
AstraZeneca is one of the front runners in terms of developing a potentially safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine given its collaboration with Oxford. AstraZeneca also has a number of oncology pipeline candidates that are in phase 3 testing such as capivasertib for breast cancer and tremelimumab for multiple cancers. Each of the drug candidates could add to AstraZeneca’s growth and stock price.
Longer term, there’s reason for optimism. In the future, AstraZeneca could use quantum computing to unlock medical breakthroughs that help address today’s big problems. It could use 3D printing in pharmaceutical printing to be more efficient. It could be one of the companies that capitalise on nanobots. AstraZeneca also has a great growth opportunity in targeting emerging markets as incomes rise.
Thanks to technology advancements, it’s a great time to be an investor. It could also be a great time to own AstraZeneca shares.