The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high last week, with stocks tied to economic recovery gaining significantly after a strong jobs report. And now that the rapidly spreading COVID-19 Delta variant has shifted investor attention back again to the healthcare industry, the sector is projected to grow considerably in the coming months. Consequently, we believe it would be prudent to invest in some of the top-performing Dow Jones healthcare stocks—Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Merck & Co. (MRK), and Amgen (AMGN). Let’s discuss.The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) hit its 35208.51 all-time high last week, driven by a stronger-than-expected jobs report. The U.S. economy added 943,000 jobs in July. Because the jobs report soothed investors’ concerns about the economic recovery, shares of companies tied to the economic comeback have since risen significantly.
Meanwhile, the rapid spread of the highly infectious COVID-19 Delta variant has rekindled investors’ interest in the healthcare industry. This, along with the rising demand for therapeutics, rapid adoption of virtual health and digital innovations, and the aging population, should continue to drive the industry’s growth. In addition, increasing government support to improve healthcare infrastructure is further anticipated to propel the industry's growth. Investors’ interest in healthcare stocks is evident in the Vanguard Health Care ETF’s (VHT) 7.7% returns over the past three months.
Because the healthcare industry tends to be non-cyclical, we believe quality healthcare stocks on the Dow Jones Index—Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK), and Amgen Inc . (NASDAQ:AMGN)—could be best bets now.