Healthcare: Pockets Of Alpha

We recommend a market-weight position in the S&P 500 Health Care sector. It is down 3.8% ytd, the worst among all 11 S&P 500 sectors, and remains one of the clear laggards of the bull market that began in October 2022 (chart).

That underperformance has created selective opportunities. The aggregate sector still lacks a near-term earnings catalyst, carries the second-lowest forward profit margin in the index, and has the weakest 2026 EPS growth outlook of any S&P 500 sector. However, some of the industries within the sector have improving outlooks. Pharma is rerating as GLP-1 economics mature into a durable earnings base, while Biotech is benefiting from M&A activity, patent-cliff pressure, and improving risk appetite.