Dernières nouvelles pour iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (ARCA:IYH)

iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF

Healthcare

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The fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the underlying index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the underlying index. The underlying index measures the performance of the healthcare sector of the U.S. equity market. The fund is non-diversified.

Eli Lilly & Co.

Unitedhealth Group Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

Abbvie Inc.

Merck & Co. Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

Danaher Corp.

Abbott Laboratories

Amgen Inc.

Pfizer, Inc.

iShares US Healthcare ETF

Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, a former confidant of George Soros and the founder of Duquesne Capital, built his career off making <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/03/37598371/stanley-druckenmillers-secret-sauce-the-two-stocks-dominating-a-quarter-of-his-three-billion-dollar">large, measured bets</a>. His latest large wager has paid off.
The famed investor has steadily increased his stake in Natera Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRA#NASDAQ">NTRA</a>), a clinical genetic testing company, since the third quarter of 2022, according to quarterly 13F filings. Druckenmiller owned 414,955 shares in 2022&#8217;s third quarter, 893,030 shares in 2023 and 3,566,850 shares in 2024.
Druckenmiller&#8217;s position now exceeds $575 million, nearly 3% of the Austin, Texas-based company&#8217;s market capitalization and 15% of Duquesne Capital&#8217;s portfolio.
Since Duquesne Capital revealed its stake in a 13F filing, its stock has traded up 268%. Meanwhile, the healthcare industry as a whole, as measured by the iShares US Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>), has risen a touch over 16%. Thus, Druckenmiller&#8217;s gamble has outperformed its sector by over 250%.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42624528/government-shutdown-threat-stocks-wobble-holiday-travel-and-paychecks-could-face-delays-what-you-need-to-know">Government Shutdown Threat: Holiday Travel, Paychecks Could Face Delays If No Deal Reached</a>
Natera specializes in genetic testing and diagnostics to improve healthcare outcomes. The company develops and markets tests that analyze DNA to provide insights into hereditary conditions, reproductive health, organ transplant health, and oncology. 
Natera's flagship products include non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPTs) like Panorama, which screens for chromosomal abnormalities in a fetus, and Horizon, a carrier screening test for hereditary conditions.
In recent years, Natera has expanded its focus to oncology and organ transplant monitoring. In oncology, the company's Signatera test detects minimal residual disease (MRD) in cancer patients, helping to guide treatment decisions and monitor for recurrence with precision.
In the transplant space, the Prospera test assesses organ health by measuring donor-derived cell-free DNA, providing early indications of transplant rejection.
The company has beaten earnings and revenue expectations over the past four quarters. Revenue has increased from $625 million in 2021 to $1.5 billion over the past twelve months, while margins have also expanded. The company has posted a positive operating cash flow since March.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42623343/exclusive-weight-loss-market-experts-scoop-up-novo-nordisk-stock-after-worst-drop-since-2002-following-drug-trial-miss">EXCLUSIVE: Weight-Loss Market Experts Scoop Up Novo Nordisk Stock After Worst Drop Since 2002 Following Drug Trial Miss</a></li>
</ul>
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Equities

Health Care

Hedge Funds

Trading Ideas

General

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund

NTRA

Stanley Druckenmiller's Top Holding Has Outperformed Its Sector By 252%

According to a report, U.S. healthcare spending grew by 7.5% to $4.9 trillion in 2023. The increase was fueled by higher enrollment in private health plans and expanded use of medical services, driven by legislative changes and post-pandemic rebounds in care utilization.
Healthcare spending accounted for 17.6% of the U.S. economy, outpacing GDP growth of 2.9%. Spending on retail prescription drugs <a target="_blank" href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2024.01375" rel="noreferrer noopener">saw</a> the most significant rise, jumping 11.4% to $449.7 billion.
The report attributed this to increased use of medications for obesity and diabetes.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41866438/donald-trumps-second-term-could-reshape-us-healthcare-system-with-major-impacts-on-affordable-care-act-and-medicare" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump&#8217;s Second Term Could Reshape US Healthcare System, With Major Impacts on Affordable Care Act And Medicare</a>
The rapid growth in spending for drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity contributed to faster overall growth in retail prescription drug expenditures and private health insurance and Medicare spending growth.
Hospital care spending rose 10.4% to $1.5 trillion in 2023, marking the fastest growth since 1990. Hospital discharges increased by 1.6%, with Medicare beneficiaries driving higher outpatient service utilization.
Spending on physician and clinical services also climbed by 7.4% to $978 billion, with private insurance and Medicare patients contributing to this rise.
Enrollment in private health insurance grew by 1.6%, adding 3.3 million Americans.
Private insurance spending surged by 11.5%, reaching $1.5 trillion and accounting for 30% of national healthcare expenditures.
Medicare spending grew 8.1% to $1 trillion, representing 21% of total healthcare spending. Medicaid spending, however, grew more slowly at 7.9%, reflecting the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The report also revealed that 92.5% of Americans had health insurance in 2023, up from 92.0% in 2022, underscoring the broader coverage expansion in recent years.
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</ul>
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Biotech

Government

News

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Health Care Provides Index Fund

Your Healthcare Costs are Soaring! US Spending Reached $5 Trillion In 2023 with Major Increase in Obesity and Diabetes Drugs, Hospital Services

Eli Lilly And Co&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) has achieved a year-to-date (YTD) increase of&nbsp;32.11% as of Friday, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. This&nbsp;surge has had varied effects on several ETFs that hold significant stakes in the pharmaceutical giant. Several ETFs with substantial holdings in Eli Lilly have experienced varied performances during the same period.
What Happened:&nbsp;The&nbsp;iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>) with a 20.33% allocation to Eli Lilly, reported a YTD gain of 10.89%. Meanwhile, the&nbsp;Roundhill GLP-1 &amp; Weight Loss ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OZEM#NASDAQ">OZEM</a>), holding 15.86% in Eli Lilly, saw a modest YTD increase of 3.74%.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42438029/candel-therapeutics-prostate-cancer-therapy-hits-primary-goal-in-late-stage-study-stock-surges-over-100?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Candel Therapeutics Stock Surges Over 100%</a>
Conversely, the&nbsp;Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDX#NASDAQ">MEDX</a>), with Eli Lilly making up 16.06% of its portfolio, experienced a YTD decline of 1.56%. Similarly, the&nbsp;Amplify Weight Loss Drug &amp; Treatment ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/THNR#NYSE">THNR</a>), with a 14.43% exposure to Eli Lilly, also saw its YTD returns decrease by 6.27%.
Lastly, the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>), which includes an 11.76% stake in Eli Lilly, recorded a YTD increase of 2.68%.
Buying $1000 In LLY vs. ETFs: If an investor had bought $1000 of LLY stock earlier this year, it would be worth $1,251 today based on a price of $782.35 for Eli Lilly at the time of writing. At the same time, IHE would have been worth $1100 based on a price of $67.11 for iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF at the time of writing.
Why It Matters: Recently, the company announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42421676/eli-lilly-15b-buyback-faces-stiff-resistance-on-the-charts">massive $15 billion share buyback plan</a>&nbsp;and a 15% dividend increase. These strategic moves come as the company enjoys the success of its blockbuster drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, despite facing mixed technical signals on the charts.
Moreover,&nbsp;Eli Lilly&nbsp;has been heavily investing in its production capabilities. The company recently announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42370795/investments-in-eli-lillys-production-capabilities-reaches-23-billion-with-additional-3-billion-expansion-at-us-facility">$3 billion expansion</a>&nbsp;of its manufacturing facility in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. This expansion is part of a broader $23 billion investment to meet the growing demand for diabetes, obesity, and pipeline medicines, further solidifying its position in the pharmaceutical industry.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

MEDX

OZEM

Amplify ETF Trust Amplify Weight Loss Drug & Treatment ETF

THNR

Eli Lilly Stock Soars 34.42% YTD: A $1000 Investment Outpaces Returns From These ETFs Holding Mounjaro-Maker Shares

FDA commissioner Robert Califf&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/21/11/24301293/robert-califfs-speedy-confirmation-vote-as-fda-head-likely-delayed-see-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">second term is anticipated</a> to end in 2025, and all eyes are now on who will be the next to take the position after Donald Trump is elected president for the second time.
He was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/robert-califf" rel="noreferrer noopener">elected</a> to head the agency in February 2022. Califf was briefly the agency&#8217;s commissioner under the Obama administration beginning in 2016.
At a conference <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/live/hQ7rYiJTcmU" rel="noreferrer noopener">hosted</a> by the Friends of Cancer Research, Califf acknowledged the uncertainty President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s return to the White House raises for the agency workforce.
He is &#8220;disappointed&#8221; about the election&#8217;s outcome. &#8220;I think we just don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going to happen.&#8221;
At the Tuesday conference, Califf added, &#8220;The gist of this administration, from everything that&#8217;s been said, is that they want to change a lot of things, and how it gets changed depends on who gets appointed into key positions and how the various policies play out.&#8221;
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41866438/donald-trumps-second-term-could-reshape-us-healthcare-system-with-major-impacts-on-affordable-care-act-and-medicare" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump&#8217;s Second Term Could Reshape US Healthcare System, With Major Impacts on Affordable Care Act And Medicare</a>
Asked whether FDA employees are eying the exits, Califf said, &#8220;people are waiting to see.&#8221;
Asked to respond to Robert F. Kennedy Jr&#8217;s statements about clearing FDA groups focused on nutrition and other issues, Califf suggested the agency is limited in addressing issues with the American diet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/11/41822473/trumps-potential-health-czar-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rattles-vaccine-stocks-shoot-first-reaction" rel="noreferrer noopener">because of Congress</a>.
In an interview Califf said, &#8220;In times of change and chaos, there&#8217;s also opportunity,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I will just comment, there&#8217;s a lot of things that I bet almost everyone in leadership positions in the health agencies would have liked to have changed but couldn&#8217;t because of the gridlock of various interests that made it difficult to change things.&#8221;
Callif said he believes the FDA is at &#8220;peak performance right now — and we&#8217;ll see what happens as the new team comes in.&#8221;
&#8220;From things that have been said, the change could happen internally or from external decisions made by the administration,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I just think we have to wait and see and have some faith that hard-working, high-quality people are still going to be in place and have support from — I hope — the external regulated community, which given the dynamics is likely to be the most important factor.&#8221;
While Califf hasn&#8217;t officially announced his departure from the FDA, he said today that &#8220;this is not the first time I&#8217;ve ridden out of town after an election.&#8221;
Read Next:
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</ul>
Image via Adobe Stock

Regulations

PowerShares Dynamic Healthcare Sector Portfolio

FDA Commissioner Califf Candid on Trump's Impact: 'We Just Don't Know What's Going to Happen'

Analyst Ratings

ASHTF

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: The Walt Disney Company, ASHTEAD GROUP PLC, The Trade Desk, iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/10/09/final-trades-john-deere-copart-amgen-and-the-iyh.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named Deere &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DE/analyst-ratings">as his final trade.</a>
On Wednesday, Citigroup analyst Kyle Menges maintained Deere with a Neutral and raised the price target from $395 to $420.
Jason Snipe of Odyssey Capital Advisors said Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>) has got a really strong pipeline.
On Monday, Barclays analyst Carter Gould maintained Amgen with an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $300 to $315.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Shannon Saccocia of NB Private Wealth named iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>).
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPRT#NASDAQ">CPRT</a>), an industrial name.
On Sept. 4, Copart reported quarterly earnings of 33 cents per share, which missed the analyst consensus estimate by 8.33%. Quarterly revenue came in at $1.068 billion, which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.081 billion. Gross profit and net income were $454 million and $323 million, respectively.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Deere gained 1.3% to close at $405.48 during Wednesday's session.</li>
<li>Amgen shares gained 1.5% to close at $322.41 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF gained 1% during Wednesday's session.</li>
<li>Copart shares gained 2.6% to settle at $55.84 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
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Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Markets

Media

AMGN

CPRT

Deere, Amgen, Copart And More: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Copart, Amgen, Deere & Company, iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/08/05/final-trades-kkr-co-leidos-holdings-abbvie-and-the-iyh.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners said AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) is a very <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39992204/abbvie-wins-analyst-confidence-with-q2-beat-diverse-portfolio-fuels-long-term-growt">strong health care provider.</a>
On July 25, AbbVie reported second-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.65, down 8.9% year over year, beating the consensus of $2.57. Net revenues reached $14.46 billion, up 4.3%, beating the consensus of $14.03 billion. Sales were up 5.6% on an operational basis.
Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners said Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) reported stable earnings.
On July 30, Leidos reported better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings. The company posted revenue growth of 8% year-over-year to $4.13 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.06 billion, driven by demand across all customer segments, especially for managed health services.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Stephanie Link of Hightower named iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>) as her final trade.
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>).
On July 31, KKR &amp; Co posted second-quarter earnings of 72 cents per share on sales of $4.17 billion. On Aug. 2, Citigroup analyst Chris Allen maintained KKR with a Buy rating, while raising the price target from $130 to $150.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>AbbVie shares fell 2.6% to close at $184.36 on Monday.</li>
<li>Leidos gained 0.9% during Friday's session.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF fell 2.6% during Monday's session.</li>
<li>KKR shares fell 2.2% to settle at $106.23 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

ABBV

LDOS

AbbVie, Leidos, KKR And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: KKR & Co., Leidos Holdings, AbbVie, iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF

Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) as his stock pick on CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/07/22/final-trades-interactive-brokers-delta-the-smin-and-iyh.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>.&#8221; 
Shares of Delta Air Lines fell around 3.5% on Monday after the legacy carrier canceled more than 600 flights on Monday, as it struggled to recover from a global cyber outage that impacted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39886639/why-are-delta-air-lines-shares-descending-on-monday">operations last week</a>.
On July 11, Delta Air Lines posted downbeat second-quarter earnings and issued lower-than-expected third-quarter earnings outlook. 
The company reported quarterly earnings of $2.36 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.37 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $16.658 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $15.452 billion, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Shannon Saccocia of NB Private Wealth named iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IYH">her final trade</a>.
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners said Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>) had a post-earnings correction, which is coming to an end. The stock will resume its prevailing trend and march towards the $150 level.
On July 16, Interactive Brokers Group reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results. 
The company reported quarterly sales of $1.29 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.262 billion, representing a 29% increase over sales of $1 billion from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly earnings of $1.76 per share, which beat the analyst consensus <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39804112/interactive-brokers-reports-better-than-expected-q2-results-customer-accounts-increased-28-the-deta">estimate of $1.74 per share</a>.
Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners picked iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (CBOE: SMIN).
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF rose 0.6% on Monday.</li>
<li>Interactive Brokers shares gained 1.4% to settle at $122.30 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Delta Air Lines shares fell 3.5% to close at $43.83 on Monday.</li>
<li>iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF gained 1.4% on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39881526/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-say-hold-these-3-utilities-stocks-with-over-5-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Say Hold These 3 Utilities Stocks With Over 5% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

IBKR

SMIN

Delta Air Lines, Interactive Brokers And More: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Interactive Brokers Group, Delta Air Lines, Ishares MSCI India Small Cap ETF, IShares U.S. Healthcare ETF

Healthcare investors are expecting Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/24/06/39499483/what-analysts-are-saying-about-cigna-group-stock">to ease regulations</a> on Medicare Advantage if the former president wins and returns to the White House.
Under the Biden administration, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services has hardened its stance on the program after it faced criticism for insurers overbilling the government and denying care to seniors too many times, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/would-trump-ease-up-on-medicare-wall-street-thinks-so-6e9ac0c0?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos1">reported</a>.
Republicans tend to favor privatizing government services and have been friendlier to Medicare Advantage plans, a trend that investors are betting could continue under a second Trump administration.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39814804/unitedhealth-analysts-boost-their-forecasts-following-upbeat-earnings">UnitedHealth Analysts Boost Their Forecasts Following Upbeat Earnings</a>
Regulatory easing on Medicare Advantage could also rekindle talks on possible mergers between health insurers. The Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>) and Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) have discussed merging, but they backed away from the deal over antitrust issues and worries over Medicare, the Journal reported in November.
Price Action: The health insurance sector gave mixed results on Wall Street. United Healthcare Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) gained 4.44% to $573.28, while Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>) dropped 5.95% to $520.21 and Cigna rose 1.49% to $344.76 on Wednesday.
Exchange-traded funds that hold health insurer stocks, however, trended upward.
<ul>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHF#NYSE">IHF</a>) edged up 0.11%</li>
<li>The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) went up 0.45% </li>
<li>Global X Dow 30 Covered Call &amp; Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DYLG#NYSE">DYLG</a>) inched up 0.25%</li>
<li>SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) gained 0.55%</li>
<li> iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>) ticked up 0.33%.</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
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Politics

ETFs

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

DYLG

Healthcare Investors Bet On Easier Medicare Rules Under Potential Trump Administration

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>), the largest U.S. health insurer, reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2024 results as it breezed past the Zacks Consensus Estimate on both earnings and revenues. UNH shares climbed 6.5% on the day following the results.
Investors can tap the opportunity by investing in ETFs having the largest allocation to this health insurance giant. These include iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (ARCA:IHF), Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLV), iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (ARCA:IYH), Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (ARCA:FHLC) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF.
<h3>Earnings in Focus</h3>
Earnings per share came in at $6.80, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.65 and increasing 10.7% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues grew 6.4% year over year to $98.9 billion and were above the estimated $98.7 billion. The solid results were powered by strong growth in Optum health care unit.
Optum revenues increased 11.7% to $62.9 billion, driven by the higher number of patients at Optum Health and the increased number of customers using the Optum Rx pharmacy service. UnitedHealthcare revenues rose 5.3% year over year to $73.9 billion, reflecting growth in the number of people served domestically.
Medical ratio (a measure of the percentage of premiums paid out for medical services) deteriorated 190 basis points year over year to 85.1% but came in higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84.4%.
The health insurer affirmed its 2024 earnings per share guidance in the range of $27.50-$28.00, indicating 10.5% year-over-year growth at the mid-point. Notably, UnitedHealth is among the largest players in the Medicare Advantage market, where private insurers offer an alternative to the original Medicare &mdash; the federal government&#39;s health insurance plan for people aged 65 and older or those with certain disabilities.
<h3>ETFs in Focus</h3>
Let&#39;s delve into each ETF below:
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF follows the Dow Jones U.S. Select Healthcare Providers Index with exposure to companies that provide health insurance, diagnostics and specialized treatment. The fund holds 66 securities in its basket. UNH occupies the top position with a 23.8% share.
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF has amassed $752.3 million in its asset base, while volume is light at about 76,000 shares per day, on average. It charges 40 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with a Medium risk outlook.
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund is the most popular healthcare ETF and follows the Health Care Select Sector Index. It holds 63 securities in its basket, with UnitedHealth taking the second spot at 9.1% of the assets. Pharma, healthcare providers &amp; services, and healthcare equipment &amp; supplies take the largest share at 32.5%, 21.2% and 19.7%, respectively, from a sector look.
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund has AUM of $40.3 billion in its asset base and trades in a heavy volume of around 6 million shares. The expense ratio comes in at 0.09%. XLV has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with a Medium risk outlook.
iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF
iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF offers exposure to 107 U.S. healthcare equipment and services, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology companies by tracking the Russell 1000 Health Care RIC 22.5/45 Capped Gross Index. Here again, UnitedHealth is the second firm, accounting for 8.8% of the total assets. In terms of industrial exposure, pharma takes the top spot at 32.9%, followed by healthcare equipment (18.9%) and biotech (18.2%).
iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF has amassed $3.3 billion in its asset base while charging 40 bps in annual fees. It trades in a good volume of around 205,000 shares a day and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook.
Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF
Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF provides exposure to 369 healthcare stocks and tracks the MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index. UnitedHealth occupies the second position with 7.6% of the assets. Pharma accounts for 29.5% share while healthcare providers and services, healthcare equipment and supplies, and biotech round off the top three spots with double-digit exposure each.
Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF has AUM of $3 billion. Its expense ratio is 0.08%, while volume is good at 119,000 shares a day. FHLC has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF
SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF is one of the largest and most popular ETFs in the large-cap space, with AUM of $34.3 billion and an average daily volume of 3 million shares. It tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index, holding 30 stocks in its basket. UNH occupies the top position, accounting for an 8.8% share. Financials (23.3%), information technology (19.4%), healthcare (18.6%), consumer discretionary (14.3%) and industrials (13.9%) are the top five sectors.
SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF charges 16 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a Medium risk outlook.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2303715/unitedhealth-rises-on-q2-earnings-beat-etfs-to-gain?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2303715">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

FHLC

UnitedHealth Rises on Q2 Earnings Beat: ETFs to Gain

Looking for broad exposure to the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market? You should consider the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (ARCA:IYH), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 06/12/2000.
Retail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Additionally, sector ETFs offer convenient ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Healthcare - Broad is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 7, placing it in top 44%.
Index Details
The fund is sponsored by Blackrock (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blk#NYSE">BLK</a>). It has amassed assets over $3.26 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market. IYH seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Index before fees and expenses.
The Russell 1000 Health Care RIC 22.5/45 Capped Gross Index measures the performance of the healthcare sector of the U.S. equity market.
Costs
Investors should also pay attention to an ETF&#39;s expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.40%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.16%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Healthcare sector--about 100% of the portfolio.
Looking at individual holdings, Eli Lilly (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) accounts for about 11.72% of total assets, followed by Unitedhealth Group Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 53.73% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
Year-to-date, the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF has added roughly 4.12% so far, and is up about 11.73% over the last 12 months (as of 05/30/2024). IYH has traded between $51.45 and $61.96 in this past 52-week period.
The ETF has a beta of 0.69 and standard deviation of 14.45% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 116 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
IShares U.S. Healthcare ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, IYH is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Health Care ETFs area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
Vanguard Health Care ETF (ARCA:VHT) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (ARCA:XLV) tracks Health Care Select Sector Index. Vanguard Health Care ETF has $17.32 billion in assets, Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF has $38.12 billion. VHT has an expense ratio of 0.10% and XLV charges 0.09%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2281071/should-you-invest-in-the-ishares-u-s-healthcare-etf-iyh?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2281071">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Sector ETFs

Should You Invest in the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) came down hard on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32843338/warren-buffett-says-the-american-healthcare-system-is-a-tapeworm-destroying-our-economy">U.S. healthcare system, </a>a preview of a yet-to-be-aired podcast showed on Sunday.
What Happened: Ocasio-Cortez slammed the rising healthcare cost that Americans are left to contend with, in an episode of Sen. Bernie Sanders&#8216; (I-Vt.) <a href="https://www.instagram.com/berniesanders/reel/C64h3y3OkLV/">podcast</a> that is scheduled to air on Wednesday. &#8220;The fact that people are choosing between medicine and rent is barbarism,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;The fact that people are worried about whether they will be on the Street every four weeks is barbarism.&#8221;
The Congresswoman also highlighted the tough choices the American public is left to make. &#8220;The fact that every person has an ache or pain in their body, and they are scarred it could either be, just a sore joint or cancer, but they can&#8217;t find out because they can&#8217;t afford the doctor. This is barbaric,&#8221; she said.
Ocasio-Cortez underlined the need to act on the malaise. &#8220;If we do not demand, and not only demand, but win, unions, healthcare, wages, ending endless wars, then we will condemn ourselves to barbarism,&#8221; she said.
The representative committed to fighting for the cause. &#8220;And I refuse to give up. I refuse to submit myself to that future,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s not a life. So, to live, we have to fight for each other,&#8221; she said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-healthcare-stocks">Best Healthcare Stocks Right Now</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: America has one of the highest healthcare costs in the world, with healthcare spending hitting $4.5 trillion in 2022, a <a href="https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2024/01/why-are-americans-paying-more-for-healthcare#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20has%20one,less%20than%20half%20as%20much.">report </a>released by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation in January said. Per-capita healthcare spending worked out to $13,493 compared to less than half as much prevailing in other wealthy countries, the report said.
As a percentage of GDP, healthcare costs have risen from 5% in 1962 to 17% in 2022. 
The spike, according to the report, could be due to increased utilization as well as higher costs charged for healthcare services. Incidentally, lawmakers have shown displeasure over the higher prescription drug costs pharma companies charge. 
Ocasio-Cortez is among the lawmakers, who supported the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/inflation-reduction-act"> Biden administration&#8217;s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>, which envisages investment in climate and energy to tackle the climate crisis, advancing environmental&nbsp;justice.
The iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>) edged up 0.02% to $60.27, according to<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag"> Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38782080/seems-low-elon-musk-questions-pfizers-0-tax-bill-but-did-tesla-pony-up-to-uncle-sam"> &#8216;Seems Low:&#8217; Elon Musk Questions Pfizer&#8217;s $0 Tax Bill, But Did Tesla Pony Up To Uncle Sam?</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

'Barbarism:' AOC Unleashes Fury On US Healthcare System As People Are 'Choosing Between Medicine And Rent'

Macro Economic Events

Economics

Beninga Closing Bell Update: Oil Rises, Healthcare Stocks Continue Lower, Tech Pulls Back On Rising Yields

On CNBC&rsquo;s &quot;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/08/final-trades-target-las-vegas-sands-apollo-global-and-the-iyh.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&quot; Jason Snipe of Odyssey Capital Advisors named Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/apo#NYSE">APO</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/03/37516928/tripadvisor-attracts-apollo-globals-interest-for-possible-buyout"> as his final trade. </a>
On March 8, Apollo Global Management appointed Chris McIntyre as Partner, Global Head of the Institutional Client Group and member of the firm&#39;s Leadership Team, effective April 15, 2024.
Stephanie Link of Hightower picked Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lvs#NYSE">LVS</a>), adding that Macau is recovering.
On Jan. 24, Las Vegas Sands reported mixed results for its fourth quarter. The company reported quarterly adjusted earnings of 57 cents per share, missing the analyst consensus estimate of 61 cents, a 400% increase over losses of 19 cents per share from the same period last year. Las Vegas Sands reported quarterly sales of $2.92 billion, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $2.90 billion, a 160.97% increase over sales of $1.12 billion from the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/01/36768438/las-vegas-sands-stock-rises-despite-mixed-q4-financial-results-the-details">same period last year</a>.
Don&rsquo;t forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here </a> 
Shannon Saccocia of Boston Private named iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iyh#NYSE">IYH</a>).
Joseph Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Target Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tgt#NYSE">TGT</a>) as his final trade.
On March 5, Target reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and issued FY24 outlook. The company reported fourth-quarter FY23 revenue growth of 1.7% year-on-year to $31.92 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $31.83 billion.
Comparable sales declined 4.4% in the fourth quarter, reflecting comparable store sales declines of 5.4% and comparable digital sales decline of 0.7%. Adjusted EPS of $2.98 beat the analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/03/37505665/these-analysts-boost-their-forecasts-on-target-after-upbeat-q4-earnings">consensus estimate of $2.42</a>.
Price Action:
Apollo Global Management shares fell 2% to close at $108.75 on Friday.
Las Vegas Sands shares rose 0.1% to close at $51.51 during Friday&rsquo;s session.
iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF fell 0.2% on Friday.
Shares of Target fell 1.1% to close at $169.72 on Friday. 
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/03/37553898/cramer-says-sprout-social-is-in-a-hot-spot-but-this-energy-stock-is-too-down-and-out"> Cramer Says Sprout Social Is In A &#39;Hot Spot,&#39; But This Energy Stock Is &#39;Too Down And Out&#39; &#39;</a>

Target, Apollo Global Management, Las Vegas Sands And More: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

According to the Global Data report, the pharma sector in Q3 2023 witnessed deals worth $28 billion, down 28% from the $54 billion recorded in Q2 2023.&nbsp;
Deal volume fell 9% from 242 deals in Q2 2023 to 221 M&amp;A deals in&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/healthcare-industry-m-and-a-deals-by-theme-quarterly-analysis/" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Q3</a>&nbsp;2023.
PricewaterhouseCoopers&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/pharma-life-sciences-deals-outlook.html" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;in its Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences: U.S. Deals 2024 Outlook. &quot;As regulators&#39; perspectives on key deal factors become better understood, there may be a return of larger deals, along with continued interest in the $5 billion to $15 billion deals to fill targeted strategic gaps.&quot;
&quot;Despite some stabilization in the macroeconomic environment and the potential for a soft landing in sight, continued geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty seems a given in 2024,&quot; PWC added in its report.
The pharmaceutical and life sciences sector experienced a notably robust year in 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels in both M&amp;A deal value and volume, the PWC report added.&nbsp;
Anticipations for 2024 suggest continuing this trend, projecting comparable activity levels within the range of $225 billion to $275 billion across all subsectors.
Notable Deals in 2023
<ul>
<li>Pfizer Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) acquired&nbsp;Seagen Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sgen#NASDAQ">SGEN</a>)<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/12/36198526/pfizer-clears-required-regulatory-hurdles-to-complete-43b-seagen-acquisition" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">&nbsp;for $43 billion.</a></li>
<li>Bristol Myers Squibb &amp; Co&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">BMY</a>) agreed to acquire&nbsp;Karuna Therapeutics Inc&nbsp;KRTX for $330.00 per share in cash, for a total equity value of $14.0 billion, or $12.7 billion net of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/12/36360205/bristol-myers-squibb-scoops-up-schizophrenia-player-karuna-therapeutics-in-massive-14b-deal" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">estimated cash acquired</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrk#NYSE">MRK</a>) acquired&nbsp;Prometheus Biosciences&nbsp;for $200.00 per share in cash for a total equity&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/33491400/merck-swings-into-q2-loss-on-prometheus-biosciences-acquisition-charge-but-raises-fy23-revenue-ou" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">value of ~$10.8 billion</a>.</li>
<li>AbbVie Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/abbv#NYSE">ABBV</a>) to acquire&nbsp;ImmunoGen Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/imgn#NASDAQ">IMGN</a>) and its flagship cancer therapy Elahere, for $31.26 per share in cash. The transaction values ImmunoGen at a total equity value of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/11/36020779/immunogens-flagship-cancer-therapy-draws-abbvies-attention-with-10-1b-deal" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">approximately $10.1 billion</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li>AbbVie Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/abbv#NYSE">ABBV</a>) will acquire psychiatric and neurological disorders player&nbsp;Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cere#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">CERE</a>) for $45 per share in cash with a total equity value of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/12/36138161/why-cerevel-therapeutics-stock-is-higher" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">approximately $8.7 billion</a>.</li>
<li>Biogen Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/biib#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">BIIB</a>) agreed to acquire&nbsp;Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/reta#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">RETA</a>) for $172.50 per share in cash, reflecting an enterprise value of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/07/33440534/biogen-bolsters-rare-disease-portfolio-agrees-to-buy-reata-pharmaceuticals-with-enterprise-value-" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">approximately $7.3 billion</a>.</li>
<li>Bristol Myers Squibb &amp; Co&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">BMY</a>) agreed to purchase&nbsp;Mirati&nbsp;Therapeutics Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrtx#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">MRTX</a>) at $58.00 per share in cash, amounting to an overall equity valuation of $4.8 billion, with an additional Contingent Value Right at $12.00 per share in cash, offering an extra&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/10/35141493/bristol-myers-squibb-strengthens-oncology-portfolio-with-mirati-therapeutics-5b-deal" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">$1.0 billion in value opportunity</a>.</li>
<li>Japanese healthcare company&nbsp;Astellas Pharma Inc&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/alpmy#OTC" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">ALPMY</a>) has agreed to buy&nbsp;Iveric Bio Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/isee#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">ISEE</a>) for $40.00 per share in cash for a total equity value of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/05/32112605/astellas-pharma-acquires-iveric-bio-for-5-9b-to-focus-on-blindness-regeneration" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">approximately $5.9 billion</a>.</li>
<li>Most recently,&nbsp;Bristol Myers Squibb &amp; Co&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">BMY</a>) has agreed to acquire&nbsp;RayzeBio Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ryzb#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">RYZB</a>) for $62.50 per share in cash, for a total equity value of approximately $4.1 billion, or $3.6 billion net of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/12/b36382478/bristol-myers-squibb-adds-premier-radiopharmaceutical-platform-with-acquisition-of-rayzebio" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">estimated cash acquired</a>.</li>
<li>Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay</li>
</ul>

ALPMY

BIIB

BMED

CERE

Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology

HART

HTEC

IMGN

ISEE

iShares Trust S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index Fund

MDEV

MRTX

PINK

RETA

RYZB

SGEN

Upward Trajectory For Biotech/Pharma M&A: Sector Trends Towards Pre-Pandemic Levels, Forecasts Positive For 2024

On CNBC&rsquo;s &quot;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/12/12/final-trades-shake-shack-pfizer-humana-and-ishares-us-healthcare.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&quot; Joshua Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management named Shake Shack Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/shak#NYSE">SHAK</a>)<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SHAK/news"> as his final trade.</a>
Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti recently informed the board of his intention to retire in 2024 after the selection of a successor.
The New York-based burger chain continues to see fourth-quarter revenue of $276.25 million &mdash; $281.75 million <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36177654/why-fast-casual-restaurant-chain-shake-shack-shares-are-shooting-higher-today">versus the consensus of $280.48 million.</a>
Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners said Humana Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hum#NYSE">HUM</a>) has 15 times earnings.
Cigna Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ci#NYSE">CI</a>) reportedly ended its attempt to negotiate an acquisition deal with rival Humana after the pair <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/12/36175629/why-is-cigna-stock-trading-higher-today">disagreed on price terms</a>.
Don&rsquo;t forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here </a> 
Jenny Harrington of Gilman Hill Asset Management said Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) has 5.7% dividend yield and 10 times earnings.
New York-based Pfizer agreed to donate the rights of royalties from sales of cancer drug Bavencio (avelumab) to the American Association for Cancer Research to address U.S. Federal Trade Commission concerns related to its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/12/36198526/pfizer-clears-required-regulatory-hurdles-to-complete-43b-seagen-acquisition">$43-billion deal to buy</a> Seagen Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sgen#NASDAQ">SGEN</a>).
Pfizer expects to close the Seagen acquisition on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Shannon Saccocia of Boston Private picked iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iyh#NYSE">IYH</a>).
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Shake Shack shares gained 0.9% to close at $67.42 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Humana gained 1.1% to $481.94.</li>
<li>Pfizer gained 0.2% to $28.58.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF added 0.6% during Tuesday&rsquo;s session.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/23/12/36195521/insiders-buying-delcath-systems-and-3-other-penny-stocks"> Insiders Buying Delcath Systems And 3 Other Penny Stocks</a>
Image: Shutterstock

SHAK

Pfizer's Dividend Yield Is 5.7%, Plus Humana And Shake Shack On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

In a recent development in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options/23/12/36047595/a-closer-look-at-cigna-groups-options-market-dynamics">health insurance sector, Cigna Corporation</a> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ci#NYSE">CI</a>) has withdrawn from its proposed merger with Humana Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hum#NYSE">HUM</a>).
What Happened: The deal, poised to create a colossal entity in the industry with an estimated $140 billion, fell through due to disagreements over financial terms.
With the merger off the table, Cigna is redirecting its strategy towards smaller, targeted acquisitions, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/cigna-calls-off-humana-pursuit-plans-big-stock-buyback-ae1c6b3c?mod=hp_lead_pos1">reports </a>The Wall Street Journal.
These acquisitions, described as &quot;bolt-on,&quot;&nbsp;signify a tactical pivot for the company. Initial discussions about Cigna acquiring Humana in a significant cash-and-stock transaction surfaced last month.
However, the&nbsp;proposal was met with skepticism from shareholders, leading to a notable decline in Cigna&#39;s stock value. Concerns centered on&nbsp;the proposed use of Cigna&#39;s stock in the transaction.
Rather than pursuing the acquisition, Cigna is planning&nbsp;a substantial stock buyback program. This initiative involves an additional $10 billion in stock repurchases, elevating the planned buybacks to $11.3 billion.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options/23/11/35904850/this-is-what-whales-are-betting-on-cigna-group">This Is What Whales Are Betting On Cigna Group</a>
Despite abandoning the merger, Cigna has maintained&nbsp;a positive outlook on the potential benefits of a partnership with Humana, especially in improving healthcare access and reducing consumer costs.
Despite the current administration&#39;s stringent approach to mergers and acquisitions, Cigna remains&nbsp;confident that a deal with Humana would have been viable from a regulatory standpoint.
The company intends to use a significant portion of its discretionary cash flow for share buybacks in the coming year, including repurchasing at least $5 billion of common stock by mid-2024.
As Cigna explores the sale of its Medicare Advantage business, the collapse of the Humana deal leaves it potentially on the sidelines of a vital and growing insurance market segment.
After its $54 billion acquisition of Express Scripts Holding, Cigna has emerged as a key player in pharmacy benefits and is expanding its Evernorth health services unit.
Related stocks such as UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) and Elevance Health Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/elv#NYSE">ELV</a>), along with ETFs like the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA: XLV) and the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSEARCA: IYH), often see movements in response to significant industry developments like this.
Now Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36157103/heres-how-much-you-would-have-made-owning-cigna-group-stock-in-the-last-10-years">Here&#39;s How Much You Would Have Made Owning Cigna Group Stock In The Last 10 Years</a>
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock

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For investors seeking a balanced approach, healthcare ETFs offer a combination of stability and growth potential. Therefore, it might be wise to consider Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC), iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH), and Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (VHT) for a balanced approach. Keep reading… Healthcare ETFs offer investors diversified exposure to the healthcare sector, encompassing pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare services. The healthcare industry has long been considered a defensive sector due to its non-cyclical nature. Regardless of the economic conditions prevailing in the economy, people need medical care, and that leads to consistent revenue streams for the healthcare sector.
Amid this backdrop, let's look at the fundamentally sound healthcare ETFs Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FHLC/">FHLC</a>), iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/IYH/">IYH</a>), and Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VHT/">VHT</a>) that are poised for robust growth.
The global healthcare services market is anticipated to reach $22.57 trillion by 2031, <a href="https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/healthcare-services-market/">exhibiting a CAGR of 8.3%</a>. Innovations in biotechnology, the rise of telemedicine, and advancements in personalized medicine are causing the shift in the industry. Furthermore, the aging global population and increased healthcare spending in emerging markets present significant growth opportunities.
<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/etf.asp">ETFs</a> allow participants to spread their investments across multiple companies, reducing single-stock risk. Similarly, healthcare ETFs include companies pioneering the trends in technological advancements, allowing investors to capitalize on growth without needing to pick individual stocks. It also provides <a href="https://www.etfcentral.com/news/power-diversification-etf-investing-beyond-just-asset-allocation">exposure to a variety of sub-sectors</a>, from large-cap pharmaceutical firms to emerging biotech innovators, reducing risk and position to investors.
Given these encouraging trends, let's look at the fundamentals of the top three <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/health-biotech-etfs/">Health &amp; Biotech ETFs</a>, beginning with number 3.
ETF #3: Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FHLC/">FHLC</a>)
FHLC seeks to track the performance of the MSCI USA IMI Health Care 25/50 Index. Managed by Fidelity Management &amp; Research Company LLC and co-managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors, the fund invests in companies within the healthcare sectors. It includes a mix of value and growth stocks from companies of various market capitalizations.
As of December 4, 2024, the fund had $2.84 billion in <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/aum.asp">assets under management (AUM)</a> and an <a href="https://digital.fidelity.com/prgw/digital/research/quote/dashboard/summary?symbol=FHLC#:~:text=NavAs%20of,%2469.884910">NAV of $69.88</a>. FHLC has an expense ratio of 0.08%, compared to the category average of 0.52%.
The fund's top holdings include Eli Lilly and Company (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LLY/">LLY</a>) with a 10.26% weighting, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/UNH/">UNH</a>) at 9.00%, Johnson &amp; Johnson (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/JNJ/">JNJ</a>), and AbbVie, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ABBV/">ABBV</a>) at 5.96% and 5.16%, respectively. It currently has a total of 369 holdings.
The fund pays an annual dividend of $0.95, translating to a 1.38% yield at the prevailing price level. The fund's four-year average yield is 1.33%. Its dividend payouts have grown at an 8.4% CAGR over the past five years.
Over the past five days, the fund's net outflow came in at $24.04 million. It has gained 11.4% over the past year to close its last trading session at $69.07.
FHLC's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect its robust prospects. The ETF has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
It also has an A grade for Buy &amp; Hold and a B for Trade. Of the 42 ETFs in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/health-biotech-etfs/">Health &amp; Biotech ETFs</a> group, FHLC is ranked #24. To access all of FHLC's POWR Ratings, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FHLC/">click here</a>.
ETF #2: iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/IYH/">IYH</a>)
IYH invests in stocks of companies operating across healthcare sectors and tracks the Russell 1000 Health Care RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index. BlackRock Fund Advisors manages this fund.
With $3.27 billion in AUM, its <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239511/ishares-us-healthcare-etf">top holdings</a> are LLY with an 11.68% weighting in the fund, UNH at 9.98% weight, followed by JNJ and ABBV with 6.59% and 5.77% weightings, respectively. The ETF has a total of 106 holdings.
The ETF's expense ratio is 0.39%, lower than the category average of 0.52%. IYH fund outflow was $12.33 million over the past five days.
IYH pays an annual dividend of $0.70, which translates to a 1.15% yield at the current price level. The fund's dividend payouts have grown at an 8% CAGR over the past three years. Its four-year average yield is 1.11%.
Over the past year, IYH has gained 11% to close the last trading session at $61.23. The fund's NAV was $61.24 as of December 5, 2024.
IYH's solid fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The fund has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
The fund has an A grade for Buy &amp; Hold and a B for Trade. IYH is ranked #23 in the same group. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/IYH/">Click here</a> to access all the IYH ratings.
ETF #1: Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VHT/">VHT</a>)
Vanguard Group, Inc. manages VHT. The fund invests in growth and value stocks of companies that are operating across healthcare sectors. It seeks to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Health Care 25/50.
As of December 4, VHT had $20.60 billion in AUM. It had an NAV of $267.75 as of December 5. Its expense ratio of 0.10% compares to the category average of 0.52%.
The fund's <a href="https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vht#:~:text=weighted%20bond%20exposures.-,Holding%20details,-as%20of%2010">top holdings</a> include LLY with a 10.82% weight, UNH with an 8.38% weight, ABBV with a 5.26% weight, and JNJ with a 4.69% weight. It has a total of 413 holdings.
VHT's trailing-12-month dividend of $3.85 yields 1.44% on the current price level, while its four-year average dividend yield is 1.30%. Its dividend payouts have grown at a 7.4% CAGR over the past three years.
VHT has gained 11.4% over the past year and 6.8% year-to-date to close the last trading session at $267.86. Its fund outflow came in at $73.67 million over the past five days.
VHT's promising outlook is reflected in its POWR Ratings. The ETF has an overall A rating, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has an A grade for Buy &amp; Hold and a B for Trade. It is ranked #20 out of 42 ETFs in the same Health &amp; Biotech ETFs group. To see the POWR Ratings of VHT, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VHT/">click here</a>.
What To Do Next?
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<hr />
VHT shares were trading at $266.87 per share on Friday afternoon, down $0.99 (-0.37%). Year-to-date, VHT has gained 7.61%, versus a 29.04% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: ShreyaRathi</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0.jpeg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;"><a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=shreya-rathi">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/vht-iyh-fhlc-3-healthcare-etfs-for-a-balanced-investment-approach/>3 Healthcare ETFs for a Balanced Investment Approach</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

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