The healthcare sector is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy. Since the beginning of 2019, the healthcare sector has increased by 6.3% in market size. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the healthcare sector has been one of the top-performing sectors in the first half of this year based on the reported earnings per share (EPS).
For the aforementioned reasons, investors are racing to invest in stocks from this industry. We have prepared a list for you to scout out some of the best healthcare stocks available on public U.S. markets.
Ticker | Company Name | Last Price | 1-Year Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNH | UnitedHealth Group Inc | $343.11 | 20.78% | 325.5B |
| CVS | CVS Health Corp | $74.23 | 4.59% | 97.2B |
| ANTM | Anthem Inc | $312.52 | 10.12% | 77.7B |
| CI | Cigna Corp | $215.76 | 7.91% | 77.9B |
| HUM | Humana Inc | $395.85 | 14.11% | 52.4B |
| CNC | Centene Corp | $60.10 | -5.23% | 34.8B |
| WCG | Webcentral Group Ltd | $0.47 | 27.03% | 72.9M |
| MOH | Molina Healthcare, Inc. | $219.32 | 70.74% | 13.0B |
| MGLN | Magellan Health Inc | $94.55 | 28.53% | 2.4B |
| VRTX | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | $237.64 | 4.52% | 61.8B |
| REGN | Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc | $544.10 | 60.30% | 58.1B |
| ALXN | Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $161.75 | 53.61% | 35.4B |
| INCY | Incyte Corporation | $99.39 | 30.66% | 21.8B |
| BMRN | BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. | $85.91 | 1.52% | 15.6B |
| SGEN | Seagen Inc | $172.64 | 56.33% | 31.1B |
| ALNY | Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $170.02 | 45.28% | 19.8B |
| IONS | Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc | $62.52 | 5.80% | 8.7B |
| NBIX | Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. | $116.13 | 17.72% | 10.8B |
| SAGE | SAGE Therapeutics Inc | $83.48 | 24.00% | 4.9B |
| TECH | BIO-TECHNE Corp | $340.34 | 56.99% | 13.1B |
| SRPT | Sarepta Therapeutics Inc | $92.65 | -17.00% | 7.3B |
| ACAD | ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. | $51.61 | 27.65% | 8.2B |
| BLUE | bluebird bio Inc | $46.07 | -44.57% | 3.1B |
| EXEL | Exelixis, Inc. | $22.46 | 26.61% | 7.0B |
| ADPT | Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp | $62.14 | 104.01% | 8.5B |
| MRNA | Moderna Inc | $151.93 | 568.12% | 60.1B |
| RGEN | Repligen Corporation | $201.99 | 102.76% | 10.9B |
| ALLK | Allakos Inc | $127.89 | 73.76% | 6.7B |
| HCA | HCA Healthcare Inc | $164.13 | 15.91% | 55.5B |
| UHS | Universal Health Services, Inc. Class B | $127.75 | -11.88% | 10.8B |
| EHC | Encompass Health Corp | $85.86 | 11.02% | 8.5B |
| THC | Tenet Healthcare Corp | $49.76 | 47.57% | 5.3B |
| SEM | Select Medical Holdings Corporation | $28.52 | 18.05% | 3.8B |
| CYH | Community Health Systems Inc | $10.92 | 138.95% | 1.3B |
| SGRY | Surgery Partners Inc | $29.10 | 63.12% | 1.5B |
| JYNT | Joint Corp | $31.05 | 94.79% | 436.0M |
| AVCO | Avalon Globocare Corp | $1.33 | -12.50% | 108.3M |
| SSY | SunLink Health Systems, Inc. | $1.61 | 42.48% | 11.1M |
| JNJ | Johnson & Johnson | $170.48 | 14.61% | 448.8B |
| MRK | Merck & Co., Inc. | $80.25 | -6.79% | 203.0B |
| PFE | Pfizer Inc. | $37.31 | -1.92% | 207.4B |
| AMGN | Amgen, Inc. | $258.60 | 15.99% | 150.5B |
| LLY | Eli Lilly And Co | $212.72 | 53.80% | 203.5B |
| ABBV | AbbVie Inc | $108.80 | 29.49% | 192.1B |
| GILD | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | $66.70 | 4.50% | 83.6B |
| BMY | Bristol-Myers Squibb Co | $64.44 | 1.16% | 145.6B |
| BIIB | Biogen Inc | $271.67 | -3.37% | 41.8B |
| HRTX | Heron Therapeutics Inc | $17.56 | -23.18% | 1.6B |
| AERI | Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc | $18.25 | -12.85% | 854.4M |
| TXMD | TherapeuticsMD Inc | $1.53 | -39.04% | 458.6M |
| RMTI | Rockwell Medical Inc | $1.43 | -46.84% | 133.8M |
| ALIM | Alimera Sciences Inc | $7.25 | 5.84% | 41.5M |
| PRPH | ProPhase Labs Inc | $11.31 | 471.21% | 171.4M |
| ADYX | Adynxx Inc | $0.30 | -78.57% | 1.8M |
| ZTS | Zoetis Inc | $159.71 | 17.47% | 75.9B |
| AGN | Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc | $0.26 | 188.89% | 35.7M |
| MYL | Myanmar Metals Ltd | $0.10 | 100.00% | 186.3M |
| ELAN | Elanco Animal Health Inc | $30.35 | -2.54% | 14.3B |
| CTLT | Catalent Inc | $113.35 | 82.82% | 18.7B |
| TCDA | Tricida Inc | $6.92 | -79.01% | 347.3M |
| PCRX | Pacira Biosciences Inc | $68.59 | 56.03% | 3.0B |
| IRWD | Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $10.19 | -16.34% | 1.6B |
| SUPN | Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc | $31.20 | 33.05% | 1.6B |
| AMRX | Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc | $4.95 | 7.38% | 1.5B |
| EGRX | Eagle Pharmaceuticals Inc | $49.19 | -12.61% | 640.9M |
| PETQ | PetIQ Inc | $34.87 | 15.16% | 1.0B |
| CPRX | Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc | $3.70 | -7.50% | 383.5M |
| FLXN | Flexion Therapeutics Inc | $12.36 | -29.77% | 609.5M |
| LCI | Lannett Company, Inc. | $8.79 | 0.46% | 366.5M |
| EOLS | Evolus Inc | $6.47 | -36.57% | 218.4M |
| ORGO | Organogenesis Holdings Inc | $10.67 | 128.48% | 1.4B |
| ABT | Abbott Laboratories | $114.73 | 28.06% | 203.3B |
| MDT | Medtronic PLC | $116.75 | -2.08% | 157.1B |
| SYK | Stryker Corporation | $238.00 | 10.90% | 89.4B |
| BSX | Boston Scientific Corporation | $36.64 | -14.09% | 52.5B |
| EW | Edwards Lifesciences Corp | $86.54 | 13.41% | 53.9B |
| ZBH | Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc | $158.22 | 6.88% | 32.8B |
| ALGN | Align Technology, Inc. | $535.10 | 105.09% | 42.2B |
| ABMD | ABIOMED, Inc. | $340.89 | 87.87% | 15.4B |
| NVCR | Novocure Ltd | $164.55 | 89.14% | 16.8B |
| GMED | Globus Medical Inc | $63.38 | 19.99% | 6.3B |
| NUVA | NuVasive, Inc. | $57.51 | -25.71% | 2.9B |
| CNMD | Conmed Corp | $119.32 | 11.23% | 3.4B |
| NVRO | Nevro Corp | $175.93 | 31.78% | 6.1B |
| ITGR | Integer Holdings Corp | $77.26 | -12.91% | 2.5B |
| PBH | Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc | $42.50 | 3.63% | 2.1B |
| CSII | Cardiovascular Systems Inc | $47.19 | -5.53% | 1.9B |
| INSP | Inspire Medical Systems Inc | $201.55 | 156.56% | 5.4B |
| SILK | Silk Road Medical Inc | $56.23 | 32.87% | 1.9B |
Factors to Consider Before Investing in Healthcare Stocks
As it is the case with other big sectors, the healthcare sector consists of three big groups:
- Healthcare providers – hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, senior living centers, etc.
- Payers – companies that provide healthcare coverage for individuals and groups
- Suppliers of Products and Services – drug companies, medical device makers, lab services, etc.
Different groups bring different levels of growth opportunities as well as risks.
One should also take notice of the aging population across the globe which provides a major boost for companies operating in this sector. However, not all stocks from this sector should be considered for investment.
As one of the biggest and most complex sectors, the healthcare sector offers a plethora of publicly-traded stocks for investment. When choosing stocks, pay attention to financials of a specific company. These include market caps, revenues, earnings per share, cash holdings, and more.
Which Healthcare Stocks Should I Buy?
In this industry, it’s always better to focus on bigger companies. You can rank companies by their market capitalization or dividends paid to their shareholders. The list below outlines the largest public healthcare companies.
Keep in mind that different stocks carry different levels of risk. Based on your investing style and risk tolerance, you may opt to invest in stocks with a higher chance for near-term growth, but also higher risks associated due to volatility of these stocks, or choose a more long-term approach and look for more undervalued stocks.
The healthcare stocks you invest in should align with your personal investment strategy.
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