Aggressive traders looking to add some excitement and, potentially increased short-term returns, to the healthcare trade have some ideas to consider including the Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3x Shares (NYSEArca: CURE).
CURE seeks to deliver triple the daily returns of the S&P Health Care Select Sector Index. That is the underlying index for the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLV), the largest healthcare ETF.
That index allocates about two-thirds of its combined weight to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology stocks. There are other catalysts to consider, including that the U.S. economy is moving into the late-cycle phase, overall growth may slow and signs of an economic slowdown could pop up. Consequently, investors may also turn to defensive sectors that are less economically sensitive, such as health care.
Politics surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could be impact CURE this year despite the Trump Administration’s failed effort to repeal the healthcare legislation.
“Revenue for UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH), one of the major healthcare providers included in the index, also bears out the relative success insurance companies experienced under the ACA,” according to Direxion research. “UnitedHealth’s total revenue increased about 6.5% in 2014 over 2013, then 20.4 percent from 2014 to 2015 and more than 17.6% from 2015 to 2016. In fiscal year 2017, UnitedHealth projects total revenue of about $199 billion, about an 8 percent increase over 2016.”
Industry observers argue that medical technology companies can tap into increased healthcare spending among emerging economies while the U.S. market has matured and could experience slower growth. Looking ahead, in the years through 2024, spending growth is projected to average 5.8% and peak at 6.3% in 2020. CURE’s index allocates about a quarter of its weight to medical device, life sciences and healthcare technology companies.
ETF traders who are betting big on the biotechnology sector rebound have also utilized leveraged long options including the Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull Shares (NYSEArca: LABU), which takes the 3x or 300% daily performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index.
For more information on the healthcare sector, visit our healthcare category.