Opinions The Panic-Proof Portfolio (Stockchase Research)
Health Care Select Sector SPDR FundXLVTOP PICKSep 17, 2026
Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Sep 17, 2026. Market Open.
You might be interested:
;fill-opacity:1;'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M31%2018.6001V30H8V18.6001L14.1334%2022.4334L19.4999%2014L24.8669%2022.4334L31%2018.6001Z'%20fill='%23EE5432'%20style='fill:%23EE5432;fill:color(display-p3%200.9340%200.3310%200.1956);fill-opacity:1;'/%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
Premium contentExcitement around MRNA and MRK combined drugs to likely protect patients from melanoma recurrence could provide a home in this sector for investors looking to rotate away from tech. This low-MER ETF hold numerous pharma and health-care companies. We recommend setting a stop-loss at $161, looking to achieve $204 -- upside potential of 18%. Yield 1.4%
She's been holding onto this since it was flat, but now it's rising which is sticking because there's optimism in tech and healthcare. This rotation into HC has been stable and durable. HS will be one of the next big beneficiaries of AI, but the cost of AI has to fall first. It will take a little while, but you are paid to wait. Enter HC now.
Premium contentThis is another U.S. ETF that's benefiting from the current rotation out of AI. XLV has outperformed the S&P 12% vs. 3.6% in the past three months and has returned 26.8% in the past year. Healthcare is a safe, steady play at a 0.51 beta. XLV pays only a 1.6% dividend costs but costs only eight basis points.
Healthcare is not a value trap. It's the worst performing sector this year--and could get worse--but the knife has fallen. If you're looking for something to buy in a market with high valuations and possible headlines from inflation prints, look at healthcare. Healthcare is insulated from interest rate volatility. If you're worried about Trump's attitude to phama, then look at healthcare equipment and services and buy IHI.
He's overweight healthcare and within that is overweight biotech and pharma. There's a reversion to the mean after a brutal election year, but that's always the case. Relief comes when presidential policies are not as dire as expected. These stock have tremendous valuations and pay good dividends and there's growth with aging demographics.
Jim Lebenthal
A basket of names, with some winners and some losers. LLY is the top holding, that's a winner. Also holds JNJ and PFE, which haven't done particularly well.
He owns NVO, MCK and CAH. He likes those companies where the only serious competition comes from 1 or 2 others, as they can control pricing power. Diabetes and weight loss are definite growth areas. See his Top Picks.
Excellent name that offers defensive protection. Strength in health care sector good for investors. Weakness in sector that past 1-2 years is creating buying opportunity.
Brooke Thackray
We reiterate XLV as a TOP PICK, especially good for investors looking to rotate away from tech. This low-MER ETF holds numerous pharma and health-care companies, which tend to out perform during periods of recession making this a defensive holding. Revenues have been growing in the sector, especially in obesity drugs with plenty of runway. We recommend maintaining the stop at $161, looking to achieve $199 -- upside potential of 18%. Yield 1.4%