Play the Best Sector of Summer With These ETFs & Stocks
After a choppy period, the healthcare sector is once again in investors’ favor. In the past month (as of Jun 7), Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF XLV has gained about 5.3% compared with the 3.9% advancement of the SPDR S&P ETF SPY).
While a few sector-specific factors have driven the rally, a seasonal tailwind also had a role to play it seems. Per a new Oppenheimer note, “health care has been the best-performing sector between June and August since 1990,” quoted on CNBC.com.
The Positive Sector Vibes
President Trump’s announcement of the drug plans in May, which were in the best interest of pharma companies, favored the space. The drug plans will likely put pressure on U.S. trading partners, forcing them to pay more for medicines.
Also, on May 30, the President signed the 'Right To Try' bill into law. This law will help patients suffering from terminal diseases to undergo experimental treatments and use drugs that are not yet approved by the FDA. Needless to say, the law brought good tidings for biotech companies (read: Fed, Trade & Global Politics to Rule June: 6 ETF Picks).
The range of M&A activity is spreading beyond the healthcare sector. The U.S. healthcare supply chain is consolidating fast, with deals across the industry ranging from insurers, pharmacies to drug distributors.
Apart from this, a pickup in the pace of innovation, promising drug launches, growing importance of biosimilars, cost-cutting efforts, an aging population, continued demand for new drugs and ever-increasing health care spending have been boosting the space.
The increasing adoption of technology is another boon for the healthcare sector. Hospitals in Israel and the United States have started to implement AI-based predictive analytics.
Per an advisory firm ABI Research, the number of patient monitoring devices deploying AI models for predictive analytics will likely increase from 53,000 at the end of 2017 to 3.1 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 176%. Overall AI implementation will enable hospitals to save around $52 billion in 2021, with North America leading the cost savings ($21 billion).
Against this backdrop, we highlight a few healthcare ETFs and stocks that have been steady at the start of June.
ETF Picks
Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF PJP
The underlying Dynamic Pharmaceutical Intellidex Index comprises stocks of U.S. pharmaceutical companies. The index evaluates companies based on the criteria like fundamental growth, stock valuation, investment timeliness and risk factors. The fund charges 56 bps in fees (read: Pharma & Biotech ETFs Soar on Trump's Drug Plan).
iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE)
The underlying Dow Jones U.S. Select Pharmaceuticals Index is free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index. The fund has a high heavy company-specific concentration risk. The fund charges 44 bps in fees.
Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV)
The fund gives exposure to pharmaceuticals; health care providers & services; health care equipment & supplies; biotechnology; life sciences tools & services; and healthcare technology. It charges 13 bps in fees.
Stock Picks
Strata Skin Sciences Inc. (SSKN)
The Zacks Rank #1 company is a medical technology company which focused on the dermatology market.The stock belongs to a top-ranked Zacks industry (top 27%).
Odonate Therapeutics Inc. (ODT)
The Zacks Rank #2 company is a pharmaceutical company. It engaged in the development of therapeutics to improve and extend the lives of patients with cancer. The stock hails from a top-ranked (top 42%) Zacks industry.
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ENTA)
This Zacks Rank #2 biotechnology company is into the research and development of molecule drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. The stock hails from a top-ranked (top 42%) Zacks industry.
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
SPDR-HLTH CR (XLV): ETF Research Reports
PWRSH-DYN PHARM (PJP): ETF Research Reports
ISHARS-US PHARM (IHE): ETF Research Reports
Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ENTA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Strata Skin Sciences, Inc. (SSKN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Odonate Therapeutics, Inc. (ODT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
