In the face of an unstable and uncertain market, now may be the health care sector’s time to shine, according to BTIG. Health care stocks were the second-worst group last year in the S & P 500 , rising less than 1% compared to a 39% gain in communication services stocks. But — spurred partly by looming tariffs — investors have increasingly flocked to health care stocks in an increasingly volatile market and macroeconomy. Health care stocks have climbed more than 7% so far in 2025, second-best in the S & P 500, behind only consumer staples (another defensive category). That’s been due to a host of individual stock performances. CVS has surged 40% in 2025, partly due to a strong fourth-quarter earnings and revenue beat . Biopharma stock Gilead Sciences has popped 20% year to date, also on the back of strong fourth-quarter results. IYH YTD mountain iShares health care ETF in 2025. Going forward, BTIG chief market technician Jonathan Krinsky expects this outperformance to continue.
