Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy in 2025: Top Picks, Trends & Sector Outlook

Looking for the best healthcare stocks to buy in 2025? Even as the healthcare sector faces headwinds, the industry remains a cornerstone of the global economy—driven by growing demand, innovation, and long-term demographic trends. With new challenges and opportunities in 2025, savvy investors are searching for healthcare stocks with the strongest potential for growth and stability.

What Are Healthcare Stocks?

Healthcare stocks include companies involved in healthcare services, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, insurance, and related sectors. This includes hospital operators, drugmakers, health insurers, and medical equipment companies.

In 2025, the global healthcare sector is projected to surpass $8 trillion in annual spending, with the U.S. leading the way. Healthcare stocks remain vital for long-term investors and active traders alike.

This makes the healthcare sector a key one to feature in your watchlists.

Top Healthcare Stocks to Watch for 2025

The healthcare sector is massive with tons of awesome stocks. 

These four aren’t the only ones worth watching. But I think they’re really interesting stocks that could make a strong run for the remainder of 2025 … And it could help you find your own healthcare stocks as you make your watchlists.

Quick note: some of these stocks are a bit higher priced. So that may put you off. 

But here’s a tip I have for stocks like this: the rule of 10. You take a higher-priced stock and move the decimal point over one place or more … You mentally turn a $100 stock into a $10 stock.

This is NOT something I recommend for every stock. But for higher-priced stocks, it can be a helpful hack.

And some of these stocks could make for great potential swing trades. I love those slow grinders.  

Healthcare Stock #1: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) – Giant With Rebound Potential

The largest U.S. health insurer, UNH faces both opportunity and risk after a turbulent year marked by leadership changes, lawsuits, and new federal investigations. Despite recent stock price volatility and negative headlines, its dominant market share and scale make it a perennial watch for value and rebound seekers.

Why Watch in 2025?

After a high-profile CEO tragedy, rising medical costs, and regulatory probes, UNH stock took a hit. But as the world’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealth remains a bellwether for the sector, with nearly 50 million members and $400 billion in annual revenue.

Keys for 2025: management stability, regulatory outcomes, and claims cost trends.

Healthcare Stock #2: Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) – Medtech Growth Standout

A medical device leader, BSX impressed Wall Street with a 22.8% year-over-year revenue jump in Q2 2025 and multiple FDA/CE approvals for its innovative cardiovascular products. Analysts just raised the price target to $118 after stellar earnings, positioning BSX as a top growth stock in medtech.

Why Watch in 2025?

BSX just posted Q2 revenue growth of nearly 23% and won FDA approval for new cardiac devices. Oppenheimer raised its price target to $118, citing robust Cardiovascular and MedSurg division growth. As one of the best-performing healthcare stocks of 2025, BSX is favored for its innovation pipeline and global market expansion.

Healthcare Stock #3: Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) – The Surgical Robotics Leader

The global leader in robotic surgery systems, ISRG delivered 21% revenue growth last quarter with its da Vinci and Ion platforms. Its “razor-and-blades” model drives recurring revenue, and a massive installed base plus rising adoption of minimally invasive surgery keep ISRG in the spotlight.

Why Watch in 2025?

ISRG’s da Vinci system dominates robotic-assisted surgery, while strong Q2 results underscore growing global demand. Recurring revenue from instrument sales provides stability, and new product launches are fueling growth. With a massive installed base, ISRG remains a top healthcare stock for long-term growth investors.

Healthcare Stock #4: NovoCure Limited (NASDAQ: NVCR) – Oncology Disruptor With Upside

Specializing in wearable oncology devices for aggressive cancers, NVCR is expanding its clinical pipeline and geographic reach. Recent FDA approvals and trial data in glioblastoma, mesothelioma, and lung cancer highlight its innovation edge, even as the stock trades at a discount following a sharp pullback.

Why Watch in 2025?

NVCR develops wearable devices that use Tumor Treating Fields to fight aggressive cancers like GBM and NSCLC. With new FDA approvals and late-stage clinical trials underway, NVCR offers speculative upside as it expands its addressable markets. The stock’s recent pullback offers an entry for risk-tolerant traders seeking innovative healthcare stocks in oncology.

Types of Healthcare Stocks in 2025

The healthcare sector in 2025 offers a diverse range of stocks across several key categories:

• Pharmaceutical and Biotech Stocks: Companies developing new drugs, vaccines, and therapies for diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer — check out our latest biotech stock watchlist here!

• Medical Device Stocks: Manufacturers of surgical instruments, diagnostic tools, and innovative medtech products.

• Health Insurance Stocks: Major players like UnitedHealth Group and Cigna that provide insurance coverage and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services.

• Healthcare Providers: Hospital networks, clinics, and specialty care providers delivering essential health services.

What Makes a Good Healthcare Stock in 2025?

Healthcare stocks are no different than other stocks. Most of their successes or failures can be attributed to four main tentpoles…

Growth Prospects

Not everyone loves trading junk penny stocks. So for some traders, growth is important. It’s also important in healthcare because there’s a lot of competition. 

Financial Strength

This ties into growth … If a company isn’t making money, is there a good reason why?

Some companies aren’t profitable because they funnel their cash into growth opportunities. That can be good, but it doesn’t guarantee growth.

For traders, a balance sheet doesn’t always matter much. But understand why the market likes — or dislikes — a stock. A strong financial situation can lead to strong momentum.

Valuation

Stock valuation can be key to determining where a stock may go in the future. If future success is already baked into the price, it may not be worth trading.

Luckily, traders don’t have to worry about the future as much. But knowing how the market sees a stock can help you gauge where it may go in the short term.

Dividends

Who doesn’t like ‘free’ money?

Again, traders don’t need to worry about this too much, but dividends make stocks more appealing. This means the market can often gravitate towards a stock that pays dividends…

A company that pays dividends also means it has money to spend. That can show that a company is in good shape.

Trading gets a lot easier when all the necessary tools are available in one spot. That’s what drove the design for StocksToTrade. Real traders built a platform to help streamline every trading day. Check it out for yourself …  Start your 14-day trial of StocksToTrade NOW for just $7.

What Are the Risks of Trading and Investing in Healthcare Stocks?

Before outlining the risks of trading healthcare stocks, remember that risk is baked into any trade. If there was no risk in trading, everyone would do it — and well.

Risk separates good traders from bad traders. Good traders know risk is inevitable and that there’s a chance for failure. Learning from your mistakes helps you properly measure risk over time…

But remember: higher-risk stocks can mean more rapid movement. Seasoned traders learn to use this risk to their advantage. Risky plays can mean quick money in a day or swing trade.

For example, penny stocks can jump tens or hundreds of percent in a short time … up or down.

My lists always focus on bigger and better performers that can make strong runs. We discuss penny stocks at StocksToTrade so you know what you’re getting into.

Competition and the FDA are the biggest concerns for anyone looking to trade healthcare stocks.

Companies compete to get drugs onto the market. And within just a few years, a company can come out with a better drug that makes another company’s past home run obsolete almost instantly…

FDA approval can also send a healthcare stock to the moon or to the dirt. So can trials. Be aware of all these factors before jumping in, even if it’s just for a short time.

Best Value Healthcare Stocks in 2025

Value stocks can excite the market. Here are three to watch in the healthcare sector…

Value Stock #1: DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA)

As the nation’s leading dialysis provider, DVA posted solid Q2 2025 earnings and expanding gross margins, despite sector headwinds. Its integrated kidney care business and global footprint make DVA a value healthcare stock to watch.

Value Stock #2: The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE: COO)

The market loves stocks like this … All it does is churn out a solid profit.

Specializing in medical devices and fertility products, COO recently earned an analyst upgrade to “outperform.” Despite a rough year for shares, COO’s diversified revenue streams and improved guidance make it a potential turnaround play.

Value Stock #3: Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI)

Unlike peers still battling Medicare challenges, Cigna’s sale of its Medicare Advantage business has insulated it from sector headwinds. Analysts see up to 35% upside after strong earnings and a lower risk profile than UnitedHealth Group.

Healthcare Stocks Outlook for 2025: Stay Ready for Opportunity

The healthcare sector continues to present both challenges and major opportunities in 2025. Whether you’re seeking defensive blue chips or high-growth disruptors, the best healthcare stocks can offer powerful moves as the market responds to innovation, earnings, and global demand. Stay updated by building your own watchlist, joining our live trading sessions, and following the latest healthcare stock news—so you’re always ready to trade the next big move.

With StocksToTrade’s Breaking News Chat, you’ll get the hottest market news that can supercharge stock moves.

Grab your 14-day trial of STT + Breaking News today for just $17!

If big news breaks, you’ll be ready to chase some profits.

Like any industry, there’s risk in healthcare. That’s why the news matters so much. An FDA approval could launch a stock to the moon while a bad trial report could bury it…

The industry develops quickly though, and competition is always high. Competition pushes companies to perform better … All of that can mean more trading opportunities.

Consider including healthcare stocks in your watchlists and be ready to pounce if they pop.

How do you watch and trade healthcare stocks? Let me know with a comment below!

Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Stocks

What are the best healthcare stocks to buy in 2025?

Top healthcare stocks for 2025 include UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Boston Scientific (BSX), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), and NovoCure (NVCR), each with strong growth potential or value appeal in the current market.

Are healthcare stocks a good investment right now?

Healthcare stocks can be a smart choice in 2025 for both defensive and growth investors, especially as the sector rebounds from recent volatility and continues to benefit from innovation, demographics, and global demand.

What are the risks of investing in healthcare stocks?

Key risks include regulatory uncertainty, rising medical costs, reimbursement pressures, and sector-specific news (such as FDA approvals or leadership changes) that can quickly move prices.

How do I find new healthcare stocks to buy?

Monitor earnings reports, FDA news, sector watchlists, and analyst upgrades. Stay updated with live pre-market prep and stock scanning tools for real-time alerts on fast-moving healthcare stocks.