1 FTSE 100 share I’d put 100% of my money into

with FTSE 100 reached an all-time high, much focus has turned to this large cap index. But it made me think, if I could choose just one Stock Footsie to put all the money in, what would I go for?

Putting 100% of your cash into just one stock isn’t something investors usually do. I usually diversify and spread the risk. That said, there are FTSE 100 giants that could be prime candidates.

It is a pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN). With a market capitalization of £179bn, it is now the largest company in the FTSE 100.

A top performer

Astrazeneca shares have been treating shareholders for years. I calculated that if I had invested £20,000 a decade ago, it would have grown to be worth over £90,500 today.

But what now? Well, I think we can continue to be FTSE 100 winners for decades to come. Prospects for the future look promising.

Let’s take a closer look.

A promising FTSE 100 titan

Astrazeneca’s biggest strength is its oncology portfolio. A decade ago, the company focused on cancer treatment. Oncology grew from about 10% of sales to 33% of sales today.

In hindsight, that decision seems smart. This has led to many effective treatments and many billion dollar blockbuster drugs. Going forward, the company continues to innovate and focus on this growing sector.

Part of Astrazeneca’s strategy is to focus on research and development. With an R&D budget of almost a quarter of sales, it is among the largest in the sector.

It’s a strategy that pays off. The FTSE 100 titan has made impressive progress in the pharmaceuticals channel so far, but it looks like there’s still plenty of growth to come.

The goal is to launch at least 15 new drugs by the end of the decade. According to CEO Pascal Soriot, 10 of the 30 final phase trials have the potential to achieve sales of more than a billion dollars.

Worth a look

Investors should remember that investing in the largest FTSE 100 companies is not risk free. Drug trials can be disappointing, and patents eventually expire. Pharmaceutical businesses are also often subject to lawsuits.

Unlike some consumer staples companies like Diageo and Unilever, Astrazeneca’s profit margin may fluctuate. But in contrast, it offers far more earning potential.

And as a long-term investor who wants to increase capital, I prefer to put 100% of my money in the end.

Should I buy this stock?

Astrazeneca has successfully doubled sales over the past five years with a proven earnings history. It is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 18, which does not strike me as expensive for this business.

The dividend yield of 2% is received but below the average of the FTSE 100. That said, I see it more as a bonus than the main reason for me to invest.

Overall, Astrazeneca’s history, strategy, and business characteristics make me a winner. If I had the money, I would definitely buy this stock today. And if I had to pick just one stock to invest in, this would be it.