Money managers give their healthiest stock picks
Money manager Martin Sass says he found a health-care stock nearly immune from bad quarters: McKesson, the U.S. drug wholesaler that's taking over German company Celesio.
"I've owned them for three years and they have beaten and raised every quarter we've owned them," Sass said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "We felt they'll do it again."
Sass, the CEO of MD Sass, said McKesson has joined an oligopoly of companies that control the vast majority of the drug distribution market. The growing popularity of generic drugs will help boost profits as well, he told CNBC.
McKesson did not beat expectations last quarter.
Read MoreWhat stocks are hot? Top picks from CNBC guests...
As part of "Squawk Box's running Platinum Portfolio challenge, Sass also choose airplane leasing company AerCap and local broadcaster NexStar Broadcasting as stocks that are likely to see strong growth. Miller owns shares of all three stocks.
Sass was looking for companies undergoing transitions.
Westwood Holdings Group founder Susan Byrne, another Platinum Portfolio participant, looked for stocks with dividend growth.
"We really go old school," Byrne said.
She named chip-maker Qualcomm, banking institution Wells Fargo and health-care conglomerate Johnson & Johnson as three stocks that would return big dividends to investors. She owns stock in all three companies.
Read More Cramer's favorite stock between $50-$100
She said dividend stocks were the best way for investors to prepare for retirement or build college funds.
"The overall market has risen," she said. "It's not cheap. These are very high quality companies."