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Healthcare Stocks, Including Abbott, Making Big Moves on October 15, 2012
The Nasdaq is up 0.3%, the S&P 500 has risen 0.3% and the Dow has climbed 0.3%, marking a bad morning for the market. The healthcare sector is the category of stocks relating to medical and healthcare goods or services. This sector includes hospital management firms, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), biotechnology and a variety of medical products. Stocks in the healthcare sector are often considered to be defensive because the products and services are essential. Even during economic downturns, people will still require medical aid and medicine to overcome illness. Having a consistent demand for goods and services makes this sector less sensitive to business cycle fluctuations.
The Healthcare sector (XLV) is up 1%, outperforming the market overall. The biggest movers in the sector so far are:
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ISIS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ISIS) is currently trading at $13.52 per share, a 7% increase. So far today, the company's volume is two million shares.
Slipping 4.5%, NPS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:NPSP) is currently trading at $10.37 per share. The company's volume for the day so far is 2.1 million shares, 0.9 times the current three-month average.
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) is up 4.1% to reach a current price of $52.52 per share. So far today, seven million shares of the company's stock have changed hands. Yesterday's volume was only 6.8 million shares.
After rising 3.7%, Abbott (NYSE:ABT) is currently trading at a share price of $71.86. The company's volume is currently 7.5 million shares for the day, 1.2 times the average daily volume.
Intuitive Surgical (Nasdaq:ISRG) is at $506.20 per share after an increase of 2.4%. So far today, 196,327 shares have changed hands.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:REGN) has increased to a share price of $153.69, a 2% rise. At 110,017 shares, the company's volume so far today is 0.2 times the average volume over the last three months.
Cantel (NYSE:CMN) has decreased to $25.28 per share, a 1.9% fall. The company is trading at a volume of 46,325 shares. This is a sign that there will be less trading activity than there was yesterday.
The Bottom Line The nature of the market is such that stocks will have good days and bad days. It is important to weigh current activity against historical performance when making any investment decisions. Keep in mind that all these ratios should be compared against historical numbers and industry information in order to get a more complete picture.
The Healthcare sector (XLV) is up 1%, outperforming the market overall. The biggest movers in the sector so far are:
| Company | Market Cap | Percentage Change |
| ISIS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ISIS) | $1.27 billion | +7% |
| NPS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:NPSP) | $937.9 million | -4.5% |
| Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) | $58.54 billion | +4.1% |
| Abbott (NYSE:ABT) | $108.72 billion | +3.7% |
| Intuitive Surgical (Nasdaq:ISRG) | $19.75 billion | +2.4% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:REGN) | $14.48 billion | +2% |
| Cantel (NYSE:CMN) | $696 million | -1.9% |
ISIS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ISIS) is currently trading at $13.52 per share, a 7% increase. So far today, the company's volume is two million shares.
Slipping 4.5%, NPS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:NPSP) is currently trading at $10.37 per share. The company's volume for the day so far is 2.1 million shares, 0.9 times the current three-month average.
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) is up 4.1% to reach a current price of $52.52 per share. So far today, seven million shares of the company's stock have changed hands. Yesterday's volume was only 6.8 million shares.
Intuitive Surgical (Nasdaq:ISRG) is at $506.20 per share after an increase of 2.4%. So far today, 196,327 shares have changed hands.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:REGN) has increased to a share price of $153.69, a 2% rise. At 110,017 shares, the company's volume so far today is 0.2 times the average volume over the last three months.
Cantel (NYSE:CMN) has decreased to $25.28 per share, a 1.9% fall. The company is trading at a volume of 46,325 shares. This is a sign that there will be less trading activity than there was yesterday.
The Bottom Line The nature of the market is such that stocks will have good days and bad days. It is important to weigh current activity against historical performance when making any investment decisions. Keep in mind that all these ratios should be compared against historical numbers and industry information in order to get a more complete picture.
by
Investopedia Staff
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