“Healthy” Returns:

Let us give credit where it is due. The XLV is now the best performing major S&P sector on a YTD basis, as it hovers impressively near the UNCH mark (notice the bottom three are lower between 24-44%). It is acting better than technology, and if one were to peek at returns going back even further they would see healthcare is the best major sector actor out of the 11 groups, on a 6 month and one year time frame too (interesting it is the same one-two punch with technology the runner up during those periods). Perhaps investors are drawn to the allure of the spaces exposure to both large, dividend paying names, and the energetic biotech stocks. Along with the XLV, that is now just 4% off its most recent 52 week highs, and has put up a robust run since a bullish morning star was completed on 3/24. Helping the healthcare category, are the medical equipment plays via the IHI. Like the XLV, the IHI catapulted last week above both its 50 and 200 day SMAs. The IHF however, is lagging behind as it trades 12% off its most recent yearly peak, and for the time being I would narrow my focus on the XLV names, and leading biotechs.

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