5 'Strong Buy' Biotech Stocks With Rapidly Approaching Catalysts

When searching for big rewards, look no further than biotech stocks.

Just be prepared for big risk, too.

Biotechs offer gobs of price potential. That's because unlike many companies that can slowly but steadily build up their businesses over time, the survival of biotechnology companies (especially early on) hinges on just a few trials of their developing treatments. Eventual approval of the drug means life-sustaining revenues for the company, so positive trial news can send shares skyrocketing. Setbacks, however, can spark an exodus.

While it's impossible for regular investors to gauge what's going on in testing labs, you can give yourself a small leg up by paying attention to the analysts who cover the biotechnology industry. If you find a stock that's mostly surrounded by bulls, that might be a signal that something rewarding is around the bend.

Here are five biotech stocks that have a "Strong Buy" consensus analyst rating and have potential catalysts right around the corner. We've used system to identify this health-care short list. Also remember that biotechnology stocks come with a considerable amount of risk, and