L'intérêt à découvert pour Vanguard Health Care ETF donne aux investisseurs une idée du degré auquel les investisseurs parient sur la baisse de l'action de Vanguard Health Care ETF. Les données sur l'intérêt à découvert sont mises à jour toutes les deux semaines.

Vanguard Health Care ETF (ARCA:VHT), Rapport sur les intérêts à découvert

Vanguard Health Care ETF

Vanguard Health Care ETF - DNQ

Healthcare

Basic Materials

Industrials

Other

Financial Services

Consumer Defensive

Technology

The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Health Care 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the health care sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The Advisor attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index. The fund is non-diversified.

Eli Lilly & Co.

Unitedhealth Group Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

Merck & Co. Inc.

Abbvie Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

Danaher Corp.

Abbott Laboratories

Amgen Inc.

Pfizer, Inc.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&#8216;s appointment as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services has sparked concerns over funding for the National Institutes of Health. Analysts warn that potential cuts to this funding could lead to increased &#8220;uncertainty&#8221; in the healthcare sector, potentially impacting healthcare stocks.
What Happened: The NIH grants are &#8220;very important&#8221; sources of funding for a lot of labs out there, said Kyle Mikson, managing director and senior research analyst in <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2414939/episodes/16662667">conversation</a> with Michael Graham, senior managing director and head of U.S. equity research internet analyst at Canaccord Genuity. 
Talking about RFK Jr.&#8217;s appointment Mikson said &#8220;He&#8217;s got some opposition to vaccines, to infectious disease research.&#8221; Highlighting the possible funding cuts along with caps on grants, Mikson added, "Things like that are causing uncertainty, causing, you know, stocks to decline."
Kennedy, known for his vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories, has extended his influence globally, undermining health initiatives like vaccination and AIDS prevention, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/30/world/africa/rfk-jr-kennedy-international-work-public-health-policies.html">reports</a>. Through his nonprofit, Children's Health Defense, Kennedy has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42254495/trumps-hhs-pick-rfk-jr-has-a-long-history-of-challenging-global-health-policies">disrupted public health efforts</a> in countries like Uganda and South Africa. He has also questioned the World Health Organization and its programs for fueling global health conspiracies.
The Donald Trump-led <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43194764/trump-administration-halts-all-communications-from-the-centers-for-disease-control-as-bird-flu-spreads">administration</a> is trying to set caps at around 15% and 10% for some labs which is delayed due to broad opposition by many states. While this is detrimental to some NIH-funded labs, others have stated that they can function without indirect cost funding or support.
While, NIH awarded about $2.5 billion in grants in the first six weeks of 2024, this year, that number has plummeted to $1.4 billion.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43906366/warren-buffetts-berkshire-boosts-bets-on-five-japanese-companies-admiration-has-consistently-grown-says-oracle-of-omaha-in-letter-to-shareholders">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Boosts Bets On 5 Japanese Companies: Oracle Of Omaha Says Admiration &#8216;Has Consistently Grown&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: While there isn't going to be a blanket impact of these caps on all healthcare firms, Mikson explains that companies that are academically focused are more likely to be impacted as compared to the ones with a mixed revenue base.
However, when considering investment opportunities, especially for growth-oriented companies with research-driven businesses, the impact is particularly important, Mikson explained.
According to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43878703/institutional-investors-load-up-on-technology-and-financial-stocks-in-q4-while-reducing-positions-in-healthcare-sector-amid-political-uncertainty">13F SEC filings</a> during the fourth quarter, healthcare sectors experienced a sharp decline in investments, with allocations dropping by 1.4%. Adam Turnquist, the chief technical strategist at LPL Financial said that "The nomination of the so-called anti-vaccine Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the potential for reduced Affordable Care Act subsidies," was also a potential trigger.
Kennedy&#8217;s appointment comes as healthcare costs rise and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/02/43549057/deadly-bird-flu-strain-hits-dairy-cows-could-make-covid-seem-like-a-walk-in-the-park-expert-says">bird flu spreads</a>, raising pandemic concerns. A longtime vaccine skeptic, his stance could impact pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) and Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>), especially as he has questioned the safety and efficacy of bird flu vaccines.
Here is a list of healthcare sector-linked exchange-traded funds, that investors could consider while trying to gain exposure to the sector.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ETF Name</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>)</td>
<td>6.41%</td>
<td>-0.46%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Health Care ETF VHT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</td>
<td>5.79%</td>
<td>-0.19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBB#NASDAQ">IBB</a>)</td>
<td>4.51%</td>
<td>-0.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Biotech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XBI#NYSE">XBI</a>)</td>
<td>0.19%</td>
<td>-5.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHI#NYSE">IHI</a>)</td>
<td>10.36%</td>
<td>12.22%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Global Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXJ#NYSE">IXJ</a>)</td>
<td>6.67%</td>
<td>-0.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>)</td>
<td>5.52%</td>
<td>-0.26%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHLC#NYSE">FHLC</a>)</td>
<td>5.90%</td>
<td>-0.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>)</td>
<td>10.14%</td>
<td>-14.26%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FBT#NYSE">FBT</a>)</td>
<td>6.72%</td>
<td>16.97%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43878703/institutional-investors-load-up-on-technology-and-financial-stocks-in-q4-while-reducing-positions-in-healthcare-sector-amid-political-uncertainty">Institutional Investors Load Up On Technology And Financial Stocks In Q4 While Reducing Positions In Healthcare Sector Amid Political Uncertainty</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

Government

Market Summary

News

Regulations

Markets

ETFs

General

ARKG

First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund

FHLC

iShares Dow Jones US Medical Devices Index Fund

iShares Trust S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index Fund

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund

MRNA

NIH Funding Cuts To Spook Healthcare Stocks? RFK Jr's Confirmation At HHS Sparks Concerns Over Research Dollars, 'Causing Uncertainty,' Says Analyst

On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily blocked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting research funding in 22 states.
What Happened: On Friday, under updated guidelines, NIH said it would now <a target="_blank" href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-068.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">apply</a> a standard indirect cost rate of 15% to all new and existing grants, replacing the previous practice of negotiating separate rates for each grant.
Historically, NIH's average indirect cost rate has been around 27%–28%, with some institutions charging over 50% or even 60%.
Also Read:&nbsp;<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's Second Term Could Reshape US Healthcare System, With Major Impacts on Affordable Care Act And Medicare</a>
In 2023, NIH awarded over $35 billion in research funding across nearly 50,000 grants. Of this, $26 billion went directly to research, while $9 billion covered indirect costs.
By implementing a 15% rate, NIH aligns more closely with private research funders. Many private foundations, including the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, cap indirect costs at 10%–15%, while some do not cover indirect costs at all.
Why It Matters: NIH has a $48 billion budget and 27 institutes that fund critical research on diseases like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/11/42222191/donald-trump-nominates-pandemic-critic-jay-bhattacharya-tapped-to-reshape-national-institutes-of-health-that-oversees-budget-of-48-billion" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer and diabetes</a>. The funding cuts were to take effect on Monday, 10 February.
In a social media post, NIH <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/NIH/status/1888004759396958263?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet&amp;mx=2" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> the change would save the federal government $4 billion annually. It said three schools that had charged more than 60% in indirect rates—Harvard University, Yale University, and Johns Hopkins University—had multibillion-dollar endowments.
A complaint <a target="_blank" href="https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2025/02/ECF-001-Complaint-Mass.-v.-NIH-1.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">filed</a> earlier on Monday argued that "Without relief from NIH's action, these institutions' cutting-edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt."
The lawsuit also mentioned, "In issuing the Rate Change Notice, the NIH has also acted beyond its statutory authority and has failed to promulgate the change using notice and comment rulemaking."
The lawsuit adds, "The Rate Change Notice is arbitrary and capricious in, among other ways, its failure to articulate the bases for the categorical rate cap of 15%, its failure to consider the grant recipients' reliance on their negotiated rates, and its disregard for the factual findings that formed the bases for the currently operative negotiated indirect cost rates."
The NIH action will "devastate critical public health research at universities and research institutions," the lawsuit claims.
The complaint alleges that the agency's action will result in layoffs, suspension of clinical trials, disruption of ongoing research programs, and laboratory closures.
Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts <a target="_blank" href="https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/gdpzkzwrwvw/02102025nih_order.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">issued</a> a temporary restraining order asking the 22 states to file a status report in 24 hours and again every two weeks to confirm the regular disbursement of the funds. The judge set a hearing for 21 February.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43608591/taiwan-semiconductors-trillion-dollar-valuation-the-chipmaker-enabling-ai-boom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor's Trillion-Dollar Valuation: The Chipmaker Enabling AI Boom</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Biotech

Health Care

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Health Care Provides Index Fund

PowerShares Dynamic Healthcare Sector Portfolio

US States Sue National Institutes Of Health Over $4 Billion Annual Cut In Biomedical Research Grant Budget

Goldman Sachs expects a gradual recovery in end-market growth throughout the year as the Tools and the contract research organizations (CROs) enter 2025 after underperforming in 2024.
Bioprocessing is anticipated to gain momentum as the year progresses, with instruments poised for recovery by mid-year, potentially achieving healthy growth rates by the fourth quarter. However, investor skepticism remains high following overly optimistic guidance in 2024.
Improved visibility, normalized supply chains, and stable ordering patterns suggest better conditions for 2025, although debates around large pharma spending are expected to dominate early-year discussions.
Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Sykes is cautiously optimistic about a potential recovery in the Life Sciences Tools sector in 2025. However, investor interest in this area remains low.
The analyst writes that the health care sector saw the fastest pace of net buying in five months last week—except for segments like Life Sciences Tools &amp; Services.
This hesitation stems from repeated disappointments in market recovery, ongoing declines in revenue and earnings forecasts, and persistently high valuations.
Danaher Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>) are scheduled to release their fourth-quarter 2024 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">earnings next week</a>.
Sector allocations among traditional, long-only investors have slightly increased, which is a positive sign.
A BofA Securities&nbsp;report in December highlighted that the Life Sciences Tools sector struggled in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42490115/despite-higher-valuations-some-life-sciences-tools-stocks-create-good-opportunities-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">fiscal year 2024</a>.
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies' spending dropped after pandemic-related overspending, and demand in China stayed weak. This led some Life Sciences companies to lower their already-conservative fiscal year revenue forecasts as the year progressed.
For most of fiscal year 2024, Life Sciences company valuations remained higher than pre-COVID levels but declined after the U.S. elections. Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025, initial forecasts and management comments suggest a mixed outlook.
Over the past two years, hedge funds have driven most of the sector's activity, but their recent pullback, combined with mutual funds' growing interest, could pave the way for broader investor engagement—if the sector demonstrates sustainable recovery.
For this to happen, large biopharma companies, the sector's key customers, need to stabilize spending amid challenges like the Inflation Reduction Act and patent cliffs.
Increased R&amp;D investment would also be crucial. While M&amp;A could support this shift, their net impact is expected to be neutral.
However, M&amp;A activity may still encourage investment to replenish product pipelines for major pharmaceutical companies.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43192622/hca-healthcare-q4-earnings-beat-steet-estimates-despite-hurricane-impact-announces-10-billion-share-buyback-program" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HCA Healthcare Q4 Earnings Beat Steet Estimates Despite Hurricane Impact, Announces $10 Billion Share Buyback Program</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by MargJohnsonVA via Shutterstock

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Goldman Sachs Predicts Gradual Recovery For Tools And Contract Research Sector In 2025, Stable Large Pharma Spending Key To Recovery

The year of milestones, 2024, has seen an unperturbed rise in the current bull market, which is nearly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">26 months</a> old. It is higher by more than 70% from the mid-October 2022 lows. As we wrap up the year with the possibility of a &#8216;Santa Rally,&#8217; let&#8217;s recap 2024&#8217;s landmark junctures.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Major U.S. Benchmarks Scale Fresh Records</h3>
The S&amp;P 500 Index has made 57 new all-time highs this year, hitting the last one on Dec. 6, 2024. Also, &#8220;2024 would go down as the best election year return ever,&#8221; said Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research in a note.
&#8220;Going back 50 years, we found five other bull markets that had lasted at least this long and the shortest any of them lasted was five total years. Think of it like a cruise ship — once it gets moving, it can be quite hard to stop,&#8221; added Detrick
While the S&amp;P 500 index was up 25.96% on a year-to-date basis as of Dec. 23 close, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose by 25.82% in the same period.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average index, on the other hand, hit a record eight 1,000-point milestones this year. It started the year around the 37,000 level and breached the 45,000 level at the beginning of December. It took only seven trading days for the index to go from 44,000 to 45,000, the second fastest 1,000-point milestone ever. Following that the index also saw one of its longest 10-day losing streak, the first ever since 1974.
Dow was up 13.77% year-to-date as of the Dec. 23 close, whereas the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) gained 13.74% in the same period.
The Nasdaq 100 index which includes all the &#8216;magnificent seven&#8217; stocks, unlike Dow, rose 29.98% year-to-date as Dec. 23 close. The ETF tracking the index, Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONEQ#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>) rose by 33.85% in the same period. Whereas, the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose by 29.88% in 2024.
The smallcap index Russell 2000 was up 11.16% over the year, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) was up 10.97% in the same period as of the Dec. 23 close.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705432" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">Is The 26-Month Bull Market Over? Here Is What Carson Research&#8217;s 50-Year Old Study Tells Us</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Market Trumps The World</h3>
Among the developed economies, the S&amp;P 500 remains the best index with a 25.96% gain on a year-to-date basis, outperforming all the other developed market indices.
While the <a href="https://x.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871317802306707882">first </a>year of a new president&#8217;s term has usually been strong since 1897, the returns during year one of a second term haven&#8217;t been very good overall, said Detrick.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Returns during year one of a second term haven&#39;t been very good overall, but way better lately. Down 5 in a row, but now up 4 in a row. &#x1f914; <a href="https://t.co/aUrCbf22Gw">pic.twitter.com/aUrCbf22Gw</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871320275129967103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Developed Markets</td>
<td>Indices</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>25.96%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Germany</td>
<td>DAX</td>
<td>18.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Japan</td>
<td>Nikkei 225</td>
<td>17.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hong Kong</td>
<td>Hang Seng</td>
<td>19.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spain</td>
<td>IBEX 35</td>
<td>12.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Kingdom</td>
<td>FTSE 100</td>
<td>4.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Switzerland</td>
<td>Swiss Market</td>
<td>2.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>France</td>
<td>CAC 40</td>
<td>-3.43%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Communication, Consumer Discretionary, And Technology Lead Gains In 2024</h3>
Tracking the exchange-traded funds that track the major sectors in the U.S. market, communication services emerged as the top sector for the year, followed by consumer discretionary and technology. The information technology sector has the highest weight of 31.3% in the S&amp;P 500, followed by financials a t13.9%.
BlackRock said that they see technology companies&#8217; earnings performing well in 2025. &#8220;We are overweight as the AI theme and earnings growth broaden. Valuations for AI beneficiaries are supported by tech companies delivering on earnings.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cyclical Sectors</td>
<td>ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Communication Services</td>
<td>Communication Services Select SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>)</td>
<td>35.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VCR#NYSE">VCR</a>)</td>
<td>27.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>27.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Financial ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPF#NYSE">RSPF</a>)</td>
<td>23.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Industrials</td>
<td>Vanguard Industrials ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIS#NYSE">VIS</a>)</td>
<td>17.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Real Estate</td>
<td>Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>)</td>
<td>0.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Materials</td>
<td>Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARC: XLB)</td>
<td>-0.37%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705439" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42383725/trump-administrations-deregulation-efforts-to-lift-energy-oil-and-gas-sectors-ai-frenzy-to-aid-faang-stocks-and-nvidia-says-fintech-insider">Trump&#8217;s Deregulation Efforts To Benefit Energy, Oil And Gas Sectors, While AI Frenzy Will Boost FAANG Stocks And Nvidia, Says Fintech Insider</a>
Among the defensive sectors, utilities emerged as a winner, whereas energy was an underperformer. Consumer staples, energy, and utilities take up 5.7%, 3.4%, and 2.5% weight, respectively in the S&amp;P 500 index.
As per Morgan Stanley, the energy sector faces a divided future. Trump's deregulation could benefit traditional energy, but the outlook for oil is uncertain due to potential oversupply and weak global demand, especially from China. In contrast, natural gas may see growth from strong European demand and increased domestic use for electrification and AI-powered data centers. The clean energy sector could face challenges, if Trump rollbacks Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. However, a full repeal seems unlikely due to the benefits for Republican states.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Defensive Sectors</td>
<td>ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Utilities</td>
<td>Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VPU#NYSE">VPU</a>)</td>
<td>18.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Staples</td>
<td>Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VDC#NYSE">VDC</a>)</td>
<td>10.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Healthcare</td>
<td>Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</td>
<td>0.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.96%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705442" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top S&amp;P 500 Performers In 2024</h3>
Palantir was the top performer within the S&amp;P 500 index this year, as it zoomed 386.67% year-to-date, as of Dec. 23 close. Vistra and Nvidia followed Palantir to advance 269.82% and 189.95% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>386.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vistra Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>)</td>
<td>269.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>189.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>)</td>
<td>162.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td>
<td>148.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>)</td>
<td>144.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)</td>
<td>114.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Texas Pacific Land Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPL#NYSE">TPL</a>)</td>
<td>113.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRGP#NYSE">TRGP</a>)</td>
<td>106.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>105.73%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705446" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Dollar Surges Over 6% In 2024</h3>
The Dollar index was up 6.72% year-to-date with a 52-week range of 100.1570 to 108.5410 per unit. If the Greenback can hold on to these gains, the currency would leave behind the second-best year since 2015.
The UDS&#8217;s demand has been rising due to the &#8220;Uncertainties arising from expected Trump's policies and hawkish comments from the Fed towards rate cycle,&#8221; said Kunal Sodhani, vice president of the global trading center at Shinhan Bank.
According to Franklin Templeton, &#8220;The Fed easing cycle will be a dominant factor for the USD. The two main comparisons we draw against the Fed cyclically, interest-rate-wise, are emerging markets, and Japan.&#8221;
WisdomTree Bloomberg US Dollar Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USDU#NYSE">USDU</a>) was up 13.24% on a year-to-date basis, as of Dec. 23 close, where as Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) advanced by 7.21% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705448" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

AVGO

AXON

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

NVDA

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ONEQ

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XLRE

S&P 500 Hits 57 All-Time Highs In Record-Breaking 2024: Magnificent 7 Drive 30% Of Nasdaq's Surge

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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Photo by MargJohnsonVA via Shutterstock

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

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

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;
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Image via Adobe Stock

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

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market, the Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (ARCA:RSPH) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 11/01/2006.
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Sector ETFs are also funds of convenience, offering many 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 4, placing it in top 25%.
<h2>Index Details</h2>
The fund is sponsored by Invesco. It has amassed assets over $953.37 million, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market. RSPH seeks to match the performance of the S&amp;P 500 EQUAL WEIGHT HEALTH CARE INDEX before fees and expenses.
The S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Health Care Index equally weights stocks in the health care sector of the S&amp;P 500 Index.
<h2>Costs</h2>
Expense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining 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 0.61%.
<h2>Sector Exposure and Top Holdings</h2>
ETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund&#39;s holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many 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, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bio#NYSE">BIO</a>) accounts for about 1.82% of total assets, followed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE">BMY</a>) and Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gild#NASDAQ">GILD</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 17.87% of total assets under management.
<h2>Performance and Risk</h2>
So far this year, RSPH has gained about 7.38%, and is up about 12.94% in the last one year (as of 09/12/2024). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $25.30 and $32.39.
The ETF has a beta of 0.84 and standard deviation of 16.29% for the trailing three-year period. With about 65 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
<h2>Alternatives</h2>
Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Health Care 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, RSPH is a sufficient 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 $18.69 billion in assets, Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF has $41.93 billion. VHT has an expense ratio of 0.10% and XLV charges 0.09%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2335012/should-you-invest-in-the-invesco-s-p-500-equal-weight-health-care-etf-rsph?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2335012">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Large Cap

Mid Cap

Sector ETFs

Dividends

GILD

RSPH

Should You Invest in the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF?

The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday in Chicago and includes a highly anticipated speech from President Joe Biden, who stepped aside from the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">2024 presidential election. &nbsp;</a>
Here's a look at Monday's key speakers and what investors should know.
Biden's Speech: Biden will headline the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40429245/2024-dnc-preview-democrats-to-rally-around-harris-walz-with-biden-obamas-clintons-and-more-will-">first night of the DNC</a> with a primetime speech emphasizing why Vice President Kamala Harris is fit to be president.
One of the themes of Biden&#8217;s speech is expected to be leadership and putting America above the president's own interest, the Democratic convention committee said in a statement viewed by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/19/dnc-2024-live-updates-day-1.html">CNBC</a>.
"While Donald Trump puts himself first, Democrats are fighting for the American people," the Democratic convention committee said.
First Lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are also set to deliver prime time speeches Monday, as reported by CNBC.
The Bidens will leave Chicago Monday night for a vacation in California, according to the report. The president will not be on hand for a speech from former President Barack Obama or to officially see Harris accept the nomination on Thursday. 
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Auto Stocks in Focus: United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is also expected to speak Monday night. The union has endorsed Harris for president.
The UAW took on General Motors Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>) in a battle over contract negotiations last year.
Recently, the UAW filed a lawsuit against Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk and Trump over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40349586/musk-trump-hit-with-uaw-labor-charges-following-union-busting-remarks-tesla-ceo-suggests-uaw-pre">comments made during an interview</a>.
Fain&#8217;s speech could put the American automotive industry in the spotlight and, depending on what is said, could also put a negative spotlight on electric and imported vehicles.
Harris and Biden have been positive on the growth of electric vehicles and proponents of the sector, which could limit what Fain says about EVs.
The speech could put ETFs that have exposure to auto stocks and electric vehicle stocks in the spotlight. The KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KARS#NYSE">KARS</a>) and Global X Autonomous &amp; Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRIV#NASDAQ">DRIV</a>) offer investors exposure to electric vehicles.
Abortion, Health Care In Focus: Harris highlighted efforts to cut health care costs and prescription drug costs in a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/08/40424431/harris-warns-trump-tax-plan-will-devastate-americans-vows-to-go-after-bad-actors-behind-food-pri"> speech on Friday</a>. Health care could be a big focus Monday night alongside abortion rights.
Three women who had high-risk pregnancies will speak during the first day of DNC events Monday, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/19/us/politics/harris-dnc-abortion-rights.html">reported </a>by the New York Times.
Each of the women faced hardships due to state abortion bans and the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
The speeches come as Harris' opponent, Trump, has expressed pride in being the driving force behind the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Trump has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/04/38150115/donald-trump-backs-away-from-national-abortion-ban-this-is-all-about-the-will-of-the-people">shied away from a national abortion ban,</a> saying the decision should be left up to individual states. States deciding abortion rights could lead to more stories like the ones expected to be shared Monday night by women who say their high-risk pregnancies almost killed them, and in some cases they had to leave their own state to get care.
Abortion rights could be a theme of all four nights of the DNC, according to the report, making it one of the biggest election issues highlighted by the Democratic Party at the convention.
Harris' focus on health care costs could put a spotlight on stocks in the sector. Investors could see health care stocks come under pressure if Harris is elected president, which could impact ETFs like the SPDR Select Sector Fund – Health Care (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>).
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/03/37430360/womens-history-month-pharmacy-chains-cvs-health-walgreens-to-start-dispensing-abortion-pill-mifepr">Access to abortion pills</a> could also put pharmacies like CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) in the spotlight.
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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent081924">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
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Auto Stocks, Abortion, Health Care In Spotlight At DNC: Joe Biden, UAW President, Women Affected By Roe V. Wade Decision Headline Night 1

Looking for broad exposure to the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market? You should consider the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (ARCA:XLV), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 12/16/1998.
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are 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 4, placing it in top 25%.
<h2>Index Details</h2>
The fund is sponsored by State Street Global Advisors. It has amassed assets over $40.97 billion, making it the largest ETF attempting to match the performance of the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market. XLV seeks to match the performance of the Health Care Select Sector Index before fees and expenses.
The Health Care Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: pharmaceuticals; health care providers &amp; services; health care equipment &amp; supplies; biotechnology; life sciences tools &amp; services; and health care technology.
<h2>Costs</h2>
When considering an ETF&#39;s total return, expense ratios are an important factor, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.09%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.49%.
<h2>Sector Exposure and Top Holdings</h2>
It is important to delve into an ETF&#39;s holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, 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 &amp;&nbsp;Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) accounts for about 13.14% 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 55.87% of total assets under management.
<h2>Performance and Risk</h2>
So far this year, XLV has added about 10.92%, and is up roughly 12.74% in the last one year (as of 07/31/2024). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $123.14 and $150.54.
The ETF has a beta of 0.67 and standard deviation of 14.18% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 66 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
<h2>Alternatives</h2>
Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, XLV is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Health Care ETFs segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.
IShares Global Healthcare ETF (ARCA:IXJ) tracks S&amp;P Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index and the Vanguard Health Care ETF (ARCA:VHT) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index. IShares Global Healthcare ETF has $4.14 billion in assets, Vanguard Health Care ETF has $18.31 billion. IXJ has an expense ratio of 0.42% and VHT charges 0.10%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2312590/should-you-invest-in-the-health-care-select-sector-spdr-etf-xlv?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2312590">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Should You Invest in the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF?

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>

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

Looking for broad exposure to the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market? You should consider the Vanguard Health Care ETF (ARCA:VHT), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 01/26/2004.
An increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Investor-friendly, sector ETFs provide many options 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 4, placing it in top 25%.
Index Details
The fund is sponsored by Vanguard. It has amassed assets over $17.89 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Healthcare - Broad segment of the equity market. VHT seeks to match the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index before fees and expenses.
The MSCI US Investable Market Health Care 25/50 Index is made up of stocks of U.S. companies within the health care sector.
Costs
Expense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.10%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.30%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
While ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund&#39;s holdings is a valuable exercise. And, 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 &amp; Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) accounts for about 9.95% 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 48.87% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF return is roughly 6.87% and is up about 11.87% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 05/20/2024), respectively. VHT has traded between $223.10 and $270.54 during this last 52-week period.
The ETF has a beta of 0.71 and standard deviation of 14.69% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 411 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
Vanguard Health Care ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VHT is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Health Care ETFs segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.
IShares Global Healthcare ETF (ARCA:IXJ) tracks S&amp;P Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (ARCA:XLV) tracks Health Care Select Sector Index. IShares Global Healthcare ETF has $4.04 billion in assets, Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF has $39.48 billion. IXJ has an expense ratio of 0.42% and XLV charges 0.09%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2275801/should-you-invest-in-the-vanguard-health-care-etf-vht?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2275801">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Should You Invest in the Vanguard Health Care ETF?

In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, Gregory DiMarzio, vice president and portfolio manager at Rockland Trust, shared insights on the current market landscape and highlighted potential growth <a href="http://3 Semiconductor Stocks Enjoy Boost Due To AI Demand: 'Outlook Remains Strong Through Next Year'">opportunities for investors</a>.
DiMarzio emphasized the health care sector&#8217;s underperformance year-to-date (YTD) and its potential for a rebound.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Healthcare Sector Offers Secular Growth Attributes</h2>
Popular healthcare sector-tracking ETFs, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) and the Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>) are up 6.4% and 6.2% YTD, respectively. The broad market SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) has gained 10.6% during that time. Over the past year, XLV and VHT have returned less than half of what the broad-market SPY has earned for investors.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/37342374/beyond-tech-and-ai-why-the-sector-hedge-funds-prefer-is-not-the-one-youd-expect">Beyond Tech And AI: Why The Sector Hedge Funds Prefer Is Not The One You&#8217;d Expect</a>
Per DiMarzio, despite economic uncertainties, healthcare offers secular growth attributes that could position it well for the future. &#8220;Considering potential economic nervousness, the health care sector offers secular growth attributes that should help it rebound and either catch up with the overall market or be resistant to the downside should the market pull back,&#8221; he said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Veeva Systems Has A Significant Opportunity For Growth, Says DiMarzio</h2>
One stock within the healthcare sector that DiMarzio is bullish on is Veeva Systems Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEEV#NYSE">VEEV</a>). Veeva Systems is a cloud-computing company specializing in pharmaceutical and life sciences applications. 
DiMarzio highlighted, &#8220;Veeva Systems has a significant opportunity for growth because the industries it serves haven&#8217;t yet taken full advantage of utilizing cloud-based technology such as Veeva's.&#8221;
Veeva Systems&#8217; innovative approach to cloud computing in pharmaceuticals and life sciences positions it as a leader in the industry, he said.
DiMarzio pointed out, &#8220;The total market size globally for cloud computing in pharmaceuticals is expected to reach nearly $60 billion by 2030, a 14.6% CAGR from 2022 &#8211; 2030.&#8221; This robust growth forecast underscores the vast potential for companies like Veeva Systems to capitalize on emerging trends in the health care sector.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36842103/did-you-miss-these-3-high-yielding-dividend-stocks-in-health-care-sector-from-wall-streets-most-accu">Did You Miss These 3 High-Yielding Dividend Stocks In Health Care Sector From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts?</a>
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EXCLUSIVE: Pharma's Cloud Revolution — A $60B Market By 2030 With 1 Stock To Watch

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>

ABBV

ALPMY

BIIB

BMED

CERE

Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology

HART

HTEC

IMGN

ISEE

MDEV

MRTX

PINK

RETA

RYZB

SGEN

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

The Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) Investment Institute has released its 2024 Outlook, detailing their projections for market levels at the end of 2024 and highlighting their preferred sectors <a href="http://benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">for the upcoming year</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Index target 4,600-4,800 in 2024</h2>
Per the <a href="https://sites.wf.com/2024-outlook/">report</a>, Wells Fargo expects global earnings to be challenged in early 2024. They expect a rebound later in the year as the economy reaccelerates. Once investors begin to anticipate an economic and earnings recovery, they expect the S&amp;P 500 to gain into the end of the year. 
Wells Fargo has a 4.600-4,800 year-end 2024 target for the S&amp;P 500 Index. Apart from the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) are two other popular ETFs that track the performance of the S&amp;P 500.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">S&amp;P 500 Likely To &#8216;Test The 5,000 Level&#8217;: JP Morgan On Where To Allocate In 2024</a>
&#8220;Valuations likely will increase in 2024 as markets anticipate an earnings recovery into 2025&#8221; said Darrell L. Cronk, president of Well Fargo Investment Institute and the CIO of Wealth &amp; Investment Institute.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Large-Caps Over Mid-Caps</h2>
At times when earnings per share (EPS) is decelerating and the economy is slowing, Wells Fargo favors quality and a more defensive posture within equities. Given their expectations with the earnings challenge in early 2024, Wells Fargo would prefer to allocate into U.S. large-caps over mid-caps and small-caps. 
They have a year-end 2024 target for the MSCI EAFE Index of 2,000-2,200. 
The MSCI EAFE Index follows the performance of large and mid-cap companies in 21 developed market countries globally, representing regions of Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. Notably, it excludes companies from Canada and the U.S. The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) is a popular ETF that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index.
Analysts at the Well Fargo Investment Institute also prefer developed-market over emerging-market equities. Along with EFA ETF as mentioned above, the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>) and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEFA#NYSE">IEFA</a>) are 2 other popular developed-markets equity-tracking ETFs.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 &#8216;Favored Sectors&#8217;</h2>
In terms of sector picks, Cronk calls out Health Care, Industrials, and Materials as Wells Fargo&#8217;s &#8220;favored sectors.&#8221; Some popular exchange-traded funds tracking these sectors respectively are:
<ul>
<li>Healthcare: The Health Care Select Sector&nbsp;SPDR&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) and the Vanguard Health Care&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</li>
<li>Industrials: The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) and the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>)</li>
<li>Materials: The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) and the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>)</li>
</ul>
Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate count among the unfavorable sectors.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36301925/emerging-ai-trends-in-2024-blackrock-sees-shift-beyond-semiconductors-cloud-to-mode">Emerging AI Trends In 2024: BlackRock Sees Shift Beyond Semiconductors, Cloud To Model Infrastructure</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

IEFA

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

S&P 500 Stuck In 4,600-4,800 Limbo For 2024? Wells Fargo Pinpoints 3 'Favored Sectors' For Next Year

The October nonfarm payrolls report released Friday shows an increase of 150,000 jobs and an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35594693/much-needed-cooling-off-or-risk-on-rally-ahead-yields-tumble-bonds-gain-after-octob">unemployment rate of 3.9%</a>. Yet the piece of the report that steals the spotlight is the the 33,000-job decline in the motor vehicles and parts manufacturing space, courtesy the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/10/35492334/gm-uaw-reach-tentative-agreement-potentially-putting-an-end-to-costly-6-week-strike">UAW strike</a>.
The 33K-Job Gap: While market watchers are discuss the job report numbers missing expectations pegged at 180,000, the report may not have been a miss if viewed an adjusted basis, accounting for the number of jobs that were purely lost on account of the UAW strike, a one-off factor impacting the October report. 
If the 33,000 jobs in the motor vehicle and parts manufacturing sector are added back in, October nonfarm payrolls total 183,000, exceeding expectations. 
Of course, the figure remains almost half of September levels, but that&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/23/11/35570015/october-jobs-report-expected-to-show-dip-heres-how-markets-may-react">attributable</a> to a number of factors.
The Economic Backdrop: The labor market is gradually cooling as a result of multiple strikes, including ones by UAW members, which did put pressure on manufacturing payrolls. Yet job gains were seen in construction, social assistance, leisure and hospitality, government, ambulatory health care services and hospitals, leisure and business services and construction. 
The largest job gains were recorded from the health care sector (58,000) and health care service (32,000). Health care sector-tracking exchange-traded funds such as the SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Health Care (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) and the Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>) were seen gaining 1.04% and 1.26%, respectively, at the time of writing Friday. 
Manufacturing employment fell by 35,000, including the 33,000 decline in motor vehicles and parts.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/10/35492334/gm-uaw-reach-tentative-agreement-potentially-putting-an-end-to-costly-6-week-strike">GM, UAW Reach Tentative Agreement, Potentially Putting An End To Costly 6-Week Strike</a>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Analysis: Autoworkers Are A Missing Piece In The October Jobs Report. Here's Why That Matters.

A proposed regulatory shift has injected uncertainty into the laboratory-testing market just as startups advance various tests to detect diseases sooner and personalize treatments.
Startups seizing advances in fields such as genomics and artificial intelligence are designing laboratory-developed tests to spot cancer and other illnesses before symptoms arise and to identify optimal therapies.
Lab-developed tests are created and carried out in a single lab.&nbsp;
Labs perform these tests on blood or other specimens shipped to them. Most genetic tests, for example, are lab-developed tests.
The FDA says it historically has exercised its discretion not to regulate such tests, thus allowing startups to introduce the tests quickly and at relatively low cost.
That would change under a proposal the FDA&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/laboratory-developed-tests" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">issued</a>&nbsp;Friday. The agency, citing concerns about the efficacy of lab-developed tests, said it plans to regulate these diagnostics.&nbsp;
As a result, many lab-developed tests would require review by the FDA before they can be sold.
But the agency&rsquo;s latest salvo leaves lab companies with less certainty about future regulation, complicating investment and product-development decisions, Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-proposal-casts-cloud-over-startups-in-lab-testing-market-57702b2f?mod=latest_headlines" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">noted</a>, citing some observers.
&ldquo;If the path to market becomes longer, less predictable and more expensive, that will affect our ability to invest and will affect the number of new diagnostics that come to market,&rdquo; said&nbsp;Greg Yap, a partner with venture firm Menlo Ventures.
For a startup, performing all tests in its lab appeals because that can simplify quality control, especially for new and complex diagnostics.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the FDA said, many lab-developed tests were lower-risk and used for specialized needs of local populations.&nbsp;
Today, they are applied much more widely, and modern lab tests pose more risks, according to the agency. It noted it is aware of lab-developed tests that led to over- or under-treatment for heart disease, patients being exposed to inappropriate therapies or not getting effective therapies, and incorrect diagnoses of diseases, including Alzheimer&rsquo;s.
The FDA proposes regulating lab-based tests as medical devices, which may impact costs and insurance reimbursements.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AGNG

Lab-Developed Tests Under FDA Scrutiny: What It Means For Startups

Two significant economic reports took center stage on Friday. The first report focused on the Producer Price Index (PPI) inflation, which was up 0.8% year-on-year in July, a substantial increase from June&#8217;s 0.2%, surpassing analysts&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/23/08/33747429/producer-price-inflation-surges-0-8-in-july-exceeds-expectations-reigniting-infla">earlier projections of 0.7%.</a>
The higher-than-expected producer inflation sparked some concerns among investors regarding a potential resurgence of inflation risks. However, it&#8217;s worth noting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released on Thursday showed a lower-than-anticipated inflation print in July. 
The University of Michigan&#8217;s consumer sentiment index saw a slight dip from July&#8217;s 71.6 to 71.2 in the first two weeks of August, just shy of expectations set at 71. The index for current economic conditions showed a small growth of 1.1% for the month, while the one for consumer expectations weakened by 1.5%. Interestingly, one-year inflation expectations saw a further decrease from 3.4% to 3.3%, while long-term expectations remained steady.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33746941/exclusive-meet-alef-aeronautics-the-startup-aiming-to-replace-your-tesla-or-toyota-with-flying-cars">EXCLUSIVE: Meet Alef Aeronautics, The Startup Aiming To Replace Your Tesla Or Toyota With Flying Cars</a>
Here are some of the immediate reactions to economic data from exchange-traded funds during the Friday morning session:
<ul>
<li>The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) rose 1.4%, marking the best daily performance among the 11 S&amp;P 500&#8217;s sectors. The top performing stock for the day was Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>), up 2.5%, soaring to the highest since early April 2023. </li>
<li>The Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>) rose 0.5%, rebounding after two straight sessions in the red. The top gainer was Tango Therapeutics Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TNGX#NYSE">TNGX</a>) up 20%, after rising over 100% this week. The best contribution came from Ely Lilly and Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), which alone added 0.1% to the VHT&#8217;s daily performance. </li>
<li>The iShares MSCI Emerging Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EEM#NYSE">EEM</a>) tumbled 1.6% on track for the lowest close in a month. The main draggers were Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (OTCPK: SSNLF) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>). </li>
<li>The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) fell 0.9%, on track for its second-straight week of losses. The worst performer was Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), down 3.7%, but the worst contributor was Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), down 0.9%. </li>
<li>Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) similarly dropped 0.9%, hitting a 1-month low. The worst-performing stock in the QQQ ETF was JD.com (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NYSE">JD</a>), down 6.8%, while the main drag to the downside came from Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), down 3.9%. The semiconductor giant has fallen nearly 9% this week, marking its worst weekly performance in a year. </li>
</ul>
Chart: Nvidia Is On Track For The Worst Week In Nearly A Year
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="825" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/editorial.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11114022/NVDA_2023-08-11_17-36-42_41890-1024x825.png" alt="" class="wp-image-86085" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/editorial.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11114022/NVDA_2023-08-11_17-36-42_41890-1024x825.png 1024w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/editorial.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11114022/NVDA_2023-08-11_17-36-42_41890-300x242.png 300w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/editorial.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11114022/NVDA_2023-08-11_17-36-42_41890-768x619.png 768w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/editorial.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11114022/NVDA_2023-08-11_17-36-42_41890.png 1340w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Now read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/08/33737762/cathie-wood-continues-to-cash-out-of-nvidia-heres-another-large-cap-ai-levered-stock-ark-sold-th">Cathie Wood Continues To Cash Out Of Nvidia: Here&#8217;s Another Large-Cap AI-Levered Stock Ark Sold Thursday</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Emerging Market ETFs

LRCX

MSFT

SSNLF

TNGX

5 ETFs Responding To PPI Surge And Consumer Sentiment Dip On Friday

JPMorgan Chase recently reported second-quarter results, with both revenue and earnings exceeding Wall Street's expectations. But CEO Jamie Dimon is erring on the side of caution.
"There are still salient risks in the immediate view," he said in the earnings press release.
"Consumers are slowly using up their cash buffers, core inflation has been stubbornly high — increasing the risk that interest rates go higher and stay higher for longer — quantitative tightening of this scale has never occurred, fiscal deficits are large and the war in Ukraine continues, which in addition to the huge humanitarian crisis for Ukrainians, has large potential effects on geopolitics and the global economy."
It's not a rosy picture. In the earnings conference call, Dimon added that "headwinds are substantial and somewhat unprecedented."
So here's a closer look at three key risk factors Dimon highlighted and how investors can hedge against them.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Core Inflation</h2>
In June, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 3% from a year ago, marking the smallest 12-month increase since March 2021. But core CPI — which excludes food and energy — increased 4.8% year over year.
Should core inflation persist at the "stubbornly high" levels Dimon cautioned about, your hard-earned money could progressively lose value because of the eroding effects of inflation.
Legendary investor Jim Rogers recently said that "the best place to be when you have inflation is real assets" like commodities.
Investors can gain exposure to commodities like gold, oil and agricultural products through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) and Invesco DB Agriculture Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBA#NYSE">DBA</a>).
Real estate is another popular hedge against rising prices. When inflation occurs, the cost of raw materials and labor goes up, so constructing new properties becomes more expensive, which contributes to the appreciation of property values.
While buying a house can be a challenge in today's environment, new companies have innovated ways for people to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/alternative-investments/platform/arrived-homes">earn passive income</a> in the real estate market. Here's how to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/22/10/29268850/bezos-backed-startup-lets-you-become-a-landlord-with-100-dollars">invest in rental properties with as little as $100</a> while staying completely hands-off.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Check out:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Passive income investments are one of the most trusted methods for riding out a recession so it's no surprise that people are turning to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/23/05/32554601/want-to-grow-your-wealth-passively-these-high-yield-real-estate-notes-might-be-your-holy-grail">high-yield notes that pay a fixed 7.5% to 9%.</a></li>
<li>Blackstone made a $13 billion bet on the growth in student housing. Here's how you can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/23/06/33080017/blackstone-bet-13-billion-on-the-impending-student-housing-price-surge-these-investors-are-doing-the">carve out your own piece of the student housing market with just $500</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quantitative Tightening</h2>
Quantitative tightening is a monetary policy that central banks use to reduce the money supply. They accomplish this by selling securities such as government bonds. As market participants buy the securities, the amount of money circulating in the economy decreases. This leads to higher interest rates, which can slow down economic activity.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has embraced quantitative tightening to tame rampant inflation. Since March 2022, the federal funds rate has been increased by 500 basis points.
While many businesses fear high-interest rates because they lead to increased borrowing costs and reduced consumer spending, it can be a different story for banks.
Banks make money from the spread between the interest rates at which they borrow and lend. When interest rates rise, it can lead to an expansion of their net interest margins.
JPMorgan's results illustrate this point. In the second quarter, the bank's net interest income surged 44% year over year to $21.9 billion.
Other than considering bank stocks, investors can also check out savings accounts as a way to ride the rate wave. Because of the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes, there are now plenty of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-savings-accounts">high-yield savings accounts</a> to choose from.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">War In Ukraine</h2>
The Russia-Ukraine war has sent shockwaves across global markets. Geopolitical conflicts could disrupt supply chains, increase energy prices and create widespread uncertainty.
When tensions escalate, investors often turn to safe-haven assets. Gold is a classic example, as it has been considered a store of value in times of crisis.
U.S. Treasury bonds are also worth considering — they are backed by the U.S. government.&nbsp;
In addition, investors may also want to look into defensive stocks, which usually come from sectors less likely to be affected by economic downturns. Notable examples include consumer staples, utilities and healthcare — sectors where established companies experience consistent demand for their products and services, regardless of economic conditions.
Investors can access these sectors via ETFs such as Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>), iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDU#NYSE">IDU</a>) and Vanguard Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>). Meanwhile, companies included in these ETFs could provide a starting point for further research.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Read next:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/22/10/29268850/bezos-backed-startup-lets-you-become-a-landlord-with-100-dollars">Bezos-Backed Startup Lets You Become A Landlord With $100</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/23/05/32537165/elon-musk-is-bullish-on-austin-heres-how-to-invest-in-the-citys-growth-before-he-floods-it-with-new">Elon Musk Is Bullish On Austin. Here&#8217;s How To Invest In The City&#8217;s Growth Before He Floods It With New Tech Workers</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Steve Jurvestson via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/8362210873/in/photolist-dJWvXx-bg6vWP-DjqVuL-q15ADn-cgsPXw-jxvDvY-eF1K2G-jxwPGQ-YDDCdS-eF2b7b-bjFgVe-eF1Q6w-eEY6rh-ZFCTDm-eEYdVY-ZFCVmj-YDDyVj-LPVSd6-ZFCXJW-eEUB38-YCKtHZ-eEUBQr-YDDHYj-YDDNym-chKEyU-chKH5E-chKEbw-chKE9Y-chKGJC-eEUAcH-chKHtQ-chKFVu-chKFsm-eEUJJV-chKEaQ-chKGo9-eEUEiv-eF1P8f-eF1FEo-eESvV2-eEUFUk-eEUDuD-eEURi8-eF1Mv3-eF1ULL-eEUXQc-chKF5q-eEV1hp-eF1VJh-eEYxZh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flickr Creative Commons</a>

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Utilities Sector Index Fund

'Headwinds Are Substantial': Jamie Dimon Just Flagged A Long List Of Serious Dangers To The US Economy — Here Are 3 'Salient' Risks And How To Defend Against Them

Goldman Sachs&nbsp;compiled research suggesting the global pharmaceutical sector has approximately $700 billion available for M&amp;A and investments.
This significant financial reserve will be crucial as patents for some of the industry&#39;s blockbuster drugs are on the expiration cliff.
The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing strong interest in M&amp;A due to anticipated revenue erosion of approximately $200 billion by the end of the decade.
The latest examples include&nbsp;Astellas Pharma Inc&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/alpmy#OTC">ALPMY</a>) acquiring American firm&nbsp;Iveric Bio Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/isee#NASDAQ">ISEE</a>)&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">for $5.9 billion</a>,&nbsp;Pfizer Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>)&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/03/31319372/seagens-43b-deal-to-double-pfizers-early-stage-oncology-pipeline-seagen-says-is-right-step" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">proposing a $43 billion</a>&nbsp;acquisition of&nbsp;Seagen Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sgen#NASDAQ">SGEN</a>),&nbsp;GSK plc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gsk#NYSE">GSK</a>) agreeing to acquire&nbsp;BELLUS Health Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blu#NASDAQ">BLU</a>)&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/04/31847715/gsk-to-strengthen-specialty-medicines-and-respiratory-pipeline-with-2b-bellus-health-acquisition" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">for $2 billion</a>, and&nbsp;Merck &amp; Co Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: announcing to acquire&nbsp;Prometheus Biosciences Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rxdx#NASDAQ">RXDX</a>)&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/04/31825415/merck-acquires-prometheus-biosciences-for-10-8b-strengthening-its-immunology-pipeline" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">for $10.8 billion</a>.
Obesity drugs are generating significant investor enthusiasm, with forecasts suggesting a total addressable market&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/05/32317535/obesity-drug-achieves-15-weight-loss-zealand-pharma-boehringer-ingelheim-partnered-drug-may-compe" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">exceeding $100 billion</a>.
Promising developments in Alzheimer&#39;s, gene therapy, and other therapeutic modalities were discussed at the conference, indicating substantial innovation and scientific progress in these areas.
The healthcare sector had a challenging start to 2023, recording one of the worst first-half performances in three decades. Factors contributing to this include regulatory &amp; growth concerns, macroeconomic rotations, and investor preference for large-cap technology stocks. Sentiment within the sector remains cautious.
The application of AI and machine learning in healthcare remains an area of interest. Companies are witnessing the positive impact of these&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/06/33039774/ai-in-medical-field-hong-kong-company-takes-first-ai-generated-drug-candidate-to-clinic-targeting" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">technologies on their businesses</a>.
Despite the general caution, there are pockets of&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/pharmaceutical-companies-have-700-billion-for-acquisition.html" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">optimism</a>. Management teams across various healthcare verticals reported strong Q2 procedure volumes, and in the investor survey, medical devices were identified as the most likely area to outperform.&nbsp;
Consumer-facing healthcare segments also demonstrated positivity, with robust demand and continued patient traffic recovery. The biopharma sector shows promise with promising innovation trends.
Policy and regulatory uncertainties emerged as a key concern in several presentations. The Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on drug pricing created&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/06/33081487/biden-administration-releases-revised-guidance-for-medicare-drug-price-negotiation-amid-industry-" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">various uncertain outcomes</a>.
Post-pandemic normalization trends continue to pose challenges for life sciences, tools, and managed care companies, which were beneficiaries during the pandemic.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-halts-trial-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-emergency-department-patients-mild-symptoms" style="color: rgb(14, 16, 26); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;; color: #4a6ee0;" target="_blank">halted a trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness</a>&nbsp;of COVID-19 convalescent plasma in treating emergency department patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
<ul>
<li>This move comes less than two months after an international trial of convalescent plasma was halted as it found no benefit.</li>
<li>This therapy, also known as survivor&#39;s plasma, uses blood from people who have recovered from the illness. It contains antibodies, or special proteins, generated by the body&#39;s immune system to fight the disease.</li>
<li>An independent data and safety monitoring board met in February for the second planned interim analysis of the trial data and concluded that while the convalescent plasma intervention caused no harm, it was unlikely to benefit this group of patients, the NIH said in a statement.</li>
<li>The U.S. trial had enrolled 511 of 900 participants, either given blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients or a placebo.</li>
<li>A recent analysis indicated no significant difference in the proportion of patients who needed emergency treatment, had to be hospitalized or died within 15 days of entering the trial, NIH said</li>
<li>&quot;Even if enrolment continued, this trial was highly unlikely to demonstrate that COVID-19 convalescent plasma prevents progression from mild to severe illness in at-risk emergency department non-hospitalized participants,&quot; said the NIH.</li>
<li>According to NIH, over 100,000 people in the U.S. and many more worldwide have already been treated with plasma therapy since the pandemic began.</li>
</ul>

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