Pfizer in steeper decline than rivals

Analysts are worried about Pfizer's rate of decline relative to others in the industry; the drug giant may lay off up to 30% of its sales force.

Although the share prices of rival large drugmakers have fallen an average of about 25 percent since Pfizer bought drugmaker Warner-Lambert for $114 billion in 2000, Pfizer's steeper decline has left many investors wondering if it is worth holding onto the stock.

"I've become concerned that Pfizer is too big to grow," said A.G. Edwards analyst Albert Rauch. "When you have $55 billion in annual revenue, a new $1 billion blockbuster only helps so much -- they need to launch bunches of them to maintain growth."