Healthcare & Biotech Stocks
Pharma giants, biotech innovators, and healthcare providers. Defensive plays with blockbuster drug upside.
200 stocks
Updated Mar 9, 2026
$6.95T
Total Market Cap
79.6
Avg P/E Ratio
1.58%
Avg Dividend Yield
-1.31%
Avg Daily Change
Healthcare stocks span companies providing medical services, health insurance, medical devices, and healthcare technology. The sector benefits from aging demographics, rising healthcare spending, and continuous medical innovation, making it one of the most defensive and resilient sectors in the stock market.
The healthcare universe includes managed care organizations like UnitedHealth Group and Cigna, medical device makers like Medtronic and Abbott Laboratories, healthcare distributors like McKesson, and hospital operators like HCA Healthcare. These companies generate steady revenue because healthcare demand is largely non-discretionary — people need medical care regardless of economic conditions.
Healthcare spending accounts for nearly 18% of U.S. GDP and continues growing. This list tracks healthcare companies on U.S. exchanges with prices, P/E ratios, dividend yields, and market caps updated daily.
| # | Symbol | Name | Price | Change % | Sub-Sector | P/E | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LLY | Eli Lilly and Co. | $990.33 | +0.72% | Pharmaceuticals | 46.4 | 957.52B |
| 2 | JNJ | Johnson & Johnson | $240.40 | +0.32% | Pharmaceuticals | 22.2 | 594.00B |
| 3 | ABBV | Abbvie Inc | $230.11 | -0.96% | Biotechnology | 166.6 | 397.77B |
| 4 | MRK | Merck & Co. Inc. | $115.79 | -0.24% | Pharmaceuticals | 16.5 | 301.17B |
| 5 | UNH | UnitedHealth Group Inc | $286.48 | -0.79% | Health Care | 21.7 | 261.12B |
| 6 | AMGN | Amgen Inc | $369.53 | +0.53% | Biotechnology | 26.4 | 203.62B |
| 7 | ABT | Abbott Laboratories | $109.56 | -1.33% | Health Care | 29.9 | 195.15B |
| 8 | TMO | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc | $501.97 | -3.25% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 28.8 | 192.76B |
| 9 | GILD | Gilead Sciences Inc | $143.93 | -0.83% | Biotechnology | 22.0 | 187.49B |
| 10 | ISRG | Intuitive Surgical Inc | $490.16 | -1.32% | Health Care | 62.4 | 178.20B |
| 11 | PFE | Pfizer Inc. | $27.05 | +1.65% | Pharmaceuticals | 19.7 | 152.72B |
| 12 | DHR | Danaher Corp | $195.50 | -3.22% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 41.3 | 149.22B |
| 13 | SYK | Stryker Corp | $364.56 | -1.60% | Health Care | 43.8 | 142.27B |
| 14 | MDT | Medtronic Plc | $90.90 | -2.27% | Health Care | 27.1 | 125.23B |
| 15 | VRTX | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc | $456.69 | -0.90% | Biotechnology | 31.4 | 124.10B |
| 16 | BMY | Bristol-Myers Squibb Co | $60.29 | -0.74% | Pharmaceuticals | 17.4 | 122.38B |
| 17 | HCA | Hca Healthcare Inc | $532.81 | -0.31% | Health Care | 17.4 | 118.22B |
| 18 | MCK | Mckesson Corp | $919.26 | -1.30% | Health Care | 26.7 | 115.69B |
| 19 | BSX | Boston Scientific Corp | $71.35 | -2.25% | Health Care | 39.0 | 112.93B |
| 20 | CVS | Cvs Health Corp | $77.92 | -0.98% | Health Care | 55.4 | 97.90B |
| 21 | REGN | Regeneron Pharmaceuticals | $759.86 | -0.66% | Biotechnology | 17.9 | 80.50B |
| 22 | CI | The Cigna Group | $271.63 | -3.43% | Health Care | 12.0 | 71.75B |
| 23 | COR | Cencora Inc | $358.46 | -0.23% | Health Care | 43.0 | 69.89B |
| 24 | ELV | Elevance Health Inc | $289.64 | +1.10% | Health Care | 11.3 | 63.73B |
| 25 | ZTS | Zoetis Inc | $121.43 | -0.65% | Pharmaceuticals | 21.5 | 57.37B |
| 26 | MDLN | Medline Inc-Cl A | $43.83 | -0.50% | Health Care | 49.1 | 56.85B |
| 27 | CAH | Cardinal Health Inc | $217.78 | +0.81% | Health Care | 31.6 | 52.54B |
| 28 | BDX | Becton Dickinson And Co | $167.12 | -1.66% | Health Care | 29.6 | 52.01B |
| 29 | IDXX | Idexx Laboratories Inc | $608.41 | -1.70% | Health Care | 47.4 | 50.24B |
| 30 | EW | Edwards Lifesciences Corp | $81.64 | -2.68% | Health Care | 42.7 | 45.80B |
| 31 | ALNY | Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc | $320.66 | +0.05% | Biotechnology | 139.7 | 43.84B |
| 32 | GEHC | Ge Healthcare Technology | $74.27 | -3.68% | Health Care | 18.1 | 37.83B |
| 33 | RMD | Resmed Inc | $252.87 | -0.96% | Health Care | 25.1 | 37.32B |
| 34 | A | Agilent Technologies Inc | $115.07 | -2.57% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 27.0 | 35.15B |
| 35 | INSM | Insmed Inc | $140.13 | -2.40% | Biotechnology | — | 33.81B |
| 36 | ALC | Alcon Inc | $81.33 | -1.44% | Health Care | 38.9 | 31.50B |
| 37 | VEEV | Veeva Systems Inc-Class A | $195.49 | -0.29% | Health Care | 35.6 | 30.62B |
| 38 | IQV | Iqvia Holdings Inc | $174.49 | -2.25% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 21.1 | 28.74B |
| 39 | BIIB | Biogen Inc | $184.87 | -1.71% | Biotechnology | 21.8 | 28.17B |
| 40 | NTRA | Natera Inc | $198.13 | +0.50% | Biotechnology | — | 27.94B |
| 41 | RPRX | Royalty Pharma Plc- Cl A | $45.41 | -0.59% | Pharmaceuticals | 34.2 | 26.35B |
| 42 | DXCM | Dexcom Inc | $68.10 | -3.66% | Health Care | 31.2 | 26.12B |
| 43 | MTD | Mettler-Toledo International | $1,209.65 | -4.09% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 29.5 | 25.63B |
| 44 | LH | Labcorp Holdings Inc | $269.67 | -2.27% | Health Care | 26.7 | 23.42B |
| 45 | STE | Steris Plc | $230.51 | -3.35% | Health Care | 33.1 | 23.39B |
| 46 | DGX | Quest Diagnostics Inc | $199.21 | -2.34% | Health Care | 22.8 | 22.59B |
| 47 | HUM | Humana Inc | $179.15 | -0.89% | Health Care | 18.2 | 21.60B |
| 48 | CNC | Centene Corp | $43.65 | +0.88% | Health Care | — | 21.48B |
| 49 | UTHR | United Therapeutics Corp | $478.16 | -1.42% | Biotechnology | 16.2 | 20.54B |
| 50 | INCY | Incyte Corp | $95.94 | -1.43% | Biotechnology | 15.7 | 20.25B |
| 51 | RVMD | Revolution Medicines Inc | $98.40 | -1.24% | Biotechnology | — | 19.86B |
| 52 | THC | Tenet Healthcare Corp | $236.95 | -1.84% | Health Care | 14.1 | 19.80B |
| 53 | EXAS | Exact Sciences Corp | $103.50 | +0.17% | Biotechnology | — | 19.73B |
| 54 | ROIV | Roivant Sciences Ltd | $28.78 | -3.16% | Biotechnology | — | 19.70B |
| 55 | MRNA | Moderna Inc | $52.52 | -2.43% | Biotechnology | — | 19.42B |
| 56 | ILMN | Illumina Inc | $124.62 | -2.82% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 21.5 | 18.30B |
| 57 | ZBH | Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc | $94.11 | +0.71% | Health Care | 25.9 | 18.25B |
| 58 | VTRS | Viatris Inc | $14.16 | -2.55% | Pharmaceuticals | — | 18.15B |
| 59 | WAT | Waters Corp | $302.54 | -4.14% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 28.1 | 18.02B |
| 60 | PODD | Insulet Corp | $237.01 | -1.63% | Health Care | 70.5 | 17.35B |
| 61 | WST | West Pharmaceutical Services | $245.86 | +0.62% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 34.4 | 17.00B |
| 62 | HOLX | Hologic Inc | $75.74 | -0.01% | Health Care | 30.9 | 16.79B |
| 63 | RGC | Regencell Bioscience Holding | $23.35 | -3.55% | Pharmaceuticals | — | 16.55B |
| 64 | COO | Cooper Cos Inc/The | $76.55 | -4.55% | Health Care | 43.4 | 16.27B |
| 65 | UHS | Universal Health Services-B | $192.65 | -2.19% | Health Care | 10.5 | 14.37B |
| 66 | IONS | Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc | $74.04 | -1.49% | Biotechnology | — | 13.47B |
| 67 | ALGN | Align Technology Inc | $174.00 | -0.91% | Health Care | 32.7 | 13.41B |
| 68 | PEN | Penumbra Inc | $338.64 | -0.58% | Health Care | 81.5 | 13.36B |
| 69 | NBIX | Neurocrine Biosciences Inc | $128.13 | -1.16% | Biotechnology | 27.4 | 13.11B |
| 70 | BBIO | Bridgebio Pharma Inc | $65.36 | -1.22% | Biotechnology | — | 12.83B |
| 71 | SOLV | Solventum Corp | $69.41 | -1.94% | Health Care | 8.4 | 12.77B |
| 72 | MEDP | Medpace Holdings Inc | $470.59 | +0.26% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 28.1 | 12.67B |
| 73 | GH | Guardant Health Inc | $91.20 | -1.49% | Health Care | — | 12.14B |
| 74 | ENSG | Ensign Group Inc/The | $207.23 | -0.03% | Health Care | 34.6 | 11.91B |
| 75 | ELAN | Elanco Animal Health Inc | $23.36 | -2.34% | Pharmaceuticals | — | 11.89B |
| 76 | GMED | Globus Medical Inc - A | $87.10 | -2.45% | Health Care | 21.8 | 11.73B |
| 77 | BMRN | Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc | $61.12 | +0.91% | Biotechnology | 33.4 | 11.65B |
| 78 | SMMT | Summit Therapeutics Inc | $15.11 | +1.14% | Biotechnology | — | 11.58B |
| 79 | RVTY | Revvity Inc | $91.34 | -5.42% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 44.8 | 10.80B |
| 80 | EHC | Encompass Health Corp | $106.95 | -0.63% | Health Care | 19.9 | 10.78B |
| 81 | EXEL | Exelixis Inc | $41.55 | +0.64% | Biotechnology | 13.7 | 10.72B |
| 82 | TEM | Tempus Ai Inc | $52.26 | -1.49% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | — | 10.67B |
| 83 | JAZZ | Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc | $182.01 | -0.88% | Pharmaceuticals | — | 10.27B |
| 84 | MDGL | Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc | $432.83 | -1.48% | Biotechnology | — | 10.08B |
| 85 | QGEN | Qiagen N.V. | $44.55 | -4.07% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 23.5 | 9.99B |
| 86 | DVA | Davita Inc | $150.76 | +0.55% | Health Care | 13.2 | 9.84B |
| 87 | MASI | Masimo Corp | $175.42 | -0.02% | Health Care | — | 9.42B |
| 88 | AXSM | Axsome Therapeutics Inc | $162.33 | +0.54% | Pharmaceuticals | — | 9.39B |
| 89 | BAX | Baxter International Inc | $17.69 | -4.89% | Health Care | — | 9.10B |
| 90 | PRAX | Praxis Precision Medicines I | $310.71 | +0.04% | Biotechnology | — | 9.09B |
| 91 | TECH | Bio-Techne Corp | $53.89 | -3.58% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 113.1 | 9.05B |
| 92 | HSIC | Henry Schein Inc | $77.60 | -3.21% | Health Care | 23.1 | 9.04B |
| 93 | ARWR | Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals In | $59.82 | -5.94% | Biotechnology | 44.2 | 8.94B |
| 94 | IBRX | Immunitybio Inc | $8.67 | -3.24% | Biotechnology | — | 8.48B |
| 95 | ICLR | Icon Plc | $107.20 | -3.07% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | 14.1 | 8.45B |
| 96 | HALO | Halozyme Therapeutics Inc | $67.37 | +0.01% | Biotechnology | 14.1 | 8.40B |
| 97 | CYTK | Cytokinetics Inc | $60.41 | -2.86% | Biotechnology | — | 8.29B |
| 98 | PCVX | Vaxcyte Inc | $59.29 | +1.79% | Biotechnology | — | 8.13B |
| 99 | BTSG | Brightspring Health Services | $41.49 | -0.67% | Health Care | 41.3 | 7.88B |
| 100 | CRL | Charles River Laboratories | $174.46 | -3.78% | Life Sciences Tools & Services | — | 7.84B |
Related ETFs
Exchange-traded funds that provide diversified exposure to the healthcare & biotech stocks sector.
XLV
SPDR
0.09% ER
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund
Largest healthcare ETF covering pharma, biotech, equipment, and managed care from the S&P 500.
VHT
Vanguard
0.10% ER
Vanguard Health Care ETF
Broad healthcare exposure with 400+ holdings. More diversified than XLV with mid and small-cap names.
IHI
iShares
0.40% ER
iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF
Focused on medical device and equipment companies. Pure play on the high-margin medical technology segment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are healthcare stocks?
Healthcare stocks include companies across the healthcare delivery chain: health insurers like UnitedHealth Group (UNH) and Elevance Health, medical device companies like Medtronic (MDT) and Abbott (ABT), healthcare service providers like HCA Healthcare, and healthcare technology companies. The sector excludes biotech and pharma, which are tracked separately due to their distinct risk profiles.
Are healthcare stocks recession-proof?
Healthcare stocks are considered defensive investments because demand for medical services persists regardless of economic conditions. During the 2008 recession, healthcare outperformed most other sectors. However, they are not completely immune — elective procedures decline during downturns, and hospital admissions may drop temporarily. Health insurers and device companies with recurring revenue tend to be the most resilient during economic stress.
How do I invest in healthcare stocks?
Options include buying individual stocks, healthcare ETFs like the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) or Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT), or specialized funds focusing on sub-sectors. For individual stocks, UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, and Abbott Laboratories are popular core holdings. Consider diversifying across insurance, devices, and services to reduce sub-sector concentration risk.
What is the biggest healthcare stock?
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is the largest healthcare company by market capitalization, valued at over $400 billion. It operates the largest U.S. health insurer (UnitedHealthcare) and a massive healthcare services arm (Optum) that spans pharmacy benefits, data analytics, and care delivery. Other mega-cap healthcare stocks include Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and AbbVie.
Do healthcare stocks pay dividends?
Many healthcare stocks pay reliable dividends. Johnson & Johnson is a Dividend King with 60+ consecutive years of dividend increases. Abbott, Medtronic, and Becton Dickinson are all Dividend Aristocrats. Health insurers like UnitedHealth have rapidly growing dividends. Yields typically range from 1-3% for healthcare stocks, with the combination of moderate yield and steady dividend growth providing attractive total returns over time.
What are the risks of healthcare stocks?
Key risks include regulatory and political risk from healthcare reform legislation, drug pricing controls, and changes to insurance coverage mandates. Medicare reimbursement cuts can impact hospitals and device companies. Patent expirations affect pharmaceutical revenue. Medical device recalls, litigation risk, and cybersecurity threats to healthcare data systems are also ongoing concerns. Government regulation is the sector's most unpredictable risk factor.
What is the aging population effect on healthcare stocks?
The aging Baby Boomer generation is a powerful tailwind for healthcare stocks. People aged 65+ consume 3-5 times more healthcare than younger adults. By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be 65 or older, dramatically increasing demand for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and long-term care. This demographic trend supports sustained revenue growth across the healthcare sector for the next two decades.
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