One of the best ways to safeguard investments is by parking money in the healthcare sector. This is because demand for healthcare services does not vary so much with market conditions and investments in the sector provide sufficient protection to the capital invested. Many pharma companies also pay out regular dividends. Companies that consistently pay dividends are financially stable and generate steady cash flows irrespective of market conditions. Mutual funds are perfect choices for investors looking to enter this sector since they possess the advantages of wide diversification and analytical insight.
Below we share with you three top-ranked healthcare mutual funds. Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of healthcare funds, their Zacks Rank and past performance.
Fidelity Select Health Care Services Portfolio FSHCX seeks long-term growth of capital and invests a bulk of its shares in securities of companies involved in the ownership and management of hospitals, nursing homes and health maintenance organizations. FSHCX also invests in companies that provide direct healthcare services. This non-diversified fund invests in common stocks of both U.S. and non-U.S. companies. Fidelity Select Health Care Services Portfolio has three-year annualized returns of 11.7%.
As of June 2017, FSHCX held 39 issues with 24.5% of its assets invested in UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH).
Hartford Healthcare HLS Fund Class IA HIAHX invests the majority of its assets in the securities of healthcare companies across the globe. The fund normally invests in different countries, including the U.S. There is no fixed amount of assets that the fund may invest in a particular country. Hartford Healthcare HLS Fund Class IA has three-year annualized returns of 12.3%.
Ann Gallo is one of the fund managers of HIAHX since 2000.
Fidelity Select Health Care Portfolio FSPHX invests the lion’s share of its assets in securities of companies involved in design, manufacture and sale of products as well as services related to the healthcare sector. The fund invests in common stocks of both U.S. as well as non-U.S. companies. Fidelity Select Health Care Portfolio has three-year annualized returns of 8.8%.
FSPHX has an expense ratio of 0.73% compared with the category average of 1.29%.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all healthcare mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of healthcare funds.
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Zacks Investment Research