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Healthcare ETFs Tug of War: Insurers Tumble, Pharma Surges
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The U.S. healthcare sector experienced a turbulent trading session on April 17, 2025, as UnitedHealth’s (UNH - Free Report) earnings disappointment sent ripples through insurer stocks. However, strong gains in drugmakers, particularly Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) , helped make up for broader sector losses.
Insurers Take a Hit from UnitedHealth Fallout
UnitedHealth’s sharp 22.4% drop following weak earnings and soft guidance echoed across the insurer landscape, dragging down key players like CVS Health, Humana, and Elevance Health. The results spotlighted how exposed health insurers are to company-specific missteps and shifting policy risks.
Eli Lilly Offers a Safety Net
Despite the pressure on managed care, Eli Lilly’s 14.4% surge on April 17 served as a reminder of the power of innovation in driving sector performance. Eli Lilly announced that its experimental weight-loss pill, orforglipron, performed on par with the widely used injectable drug Ozempic in reducing both weight and blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Its success helped cushion sector-wide declines.
Stable Giants and Medical Tech in Focus
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) maintained its stable trajectory, supported by solid earnings. JNJ shares gained 2.3% on the day. Meanwhile, medical device and equipment makers such as are increasingly hogging investor attention, benefiting from long-term demand trends tied to an aging global population.
Impact on the ETF World
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV - Free Report) : Insurers Drag, But Pharma Lifts the Mood
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV - Free Report) houses Eli Lilly (12.29%), UnitedHealth (9%), and Johnson & Johnson (7.47%) among its top holdings. Overall, the fund lost 0.6% on the day.
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE): Pharma-Powered Rally
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE - Free Report) saw a strong influx of investor interest as capital rotated into large-cap pharmaceutical stocks, spurred by Eli Lilly’s success.The rally came even as Novo Nordisk—a key competitor in the GLP-1 space—tumbled nearly 8%. IHE ETF jumped 4.6% on that day.
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH): Another Pharma Gainer
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH - Free Report) gained on the back of widespread strength in the pharmaceutical sector. Investor enthusiasm, driven by innovation-led sentiment from Eli Lilly’s news, supported a broad rally in drug stocks. The XPH ETF rose 2.2% on April 17.
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF - Free Report) : Hurt by Health Insurers’ Losses
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF - Free Report) is heavy on UNH, Elevance Health (ELV - Free Report) (down 2.4%), Humana (HUM - Free Report) (down 7.4%), CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) (down 1.84%). Due to the hit from these stocks, the fund dived over 6% on April 17.
Bottom Line
Thursday’s market activity delivered a crucial message: healthcare is not a rock-solid sector across the board. While insurers are facing headwinds currently, drugmakers are gaining momentum. The medical sector is expected to record 34.7% earnings growth in Q1 2025, on 7.5% higher revenues.
While political policy changes and earnings surprises will likely continue to shake up the sector, strong fundamentals in pharma—as well as the sector’s inherent safe-haven status—should bode well for the space.
Note that The SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF (XHS) andIHF have delivered strong relative returns over the past month. Despite losses of 2.3% and 3.6%, respectively, both outperformed the S&P 500’s 6.8% decline.
If the Republican government remains favorable to health insurers in the coming days, we can expect a rally in health insurer stocks as well, which in turn should benefit the broader medical sector.
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Healthcare ETFs Tug of War: Insurers Tumble, Pharma Surges
The U.S. healthcare sector experienced a turbulent trading session on April 17, 2025, as UnitedHealth’s (UNH - Free Report) earnings disappointment sent ripples through insurer stocks. However, strong gains in drugmakers, particularly Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) , helped make up for broader sector losses.
Insurers Take a Hit from UnitedHealth Fallout
UnitedHealth’s sharp 22.4% drop following weak earnings and soft guidance echoed across the insurer landscape, dragging down key players like CVS Health, Humana, and Elevance Health. The results spotlighted how exposed health insurers are to company-specific missteps and shifting policy risks.
Eli Lilly Offers a Safety Net
Despite the pressure on managed care, Eli Lilly’s 14.4% surge on April 17 served as a reminder of the power of innovation in driving sector performance. Eli Lilly announced that its experimental weight-loss pill, orforglipron, performed on par with the widely used injectable drug Ozempic in reducing both weight and blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Its success helped cushion sector-wide declines.
Stable Giants and Medical Tech in Focus
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) maintained its stable trajectory, supported by solid earnings. JNJ shares gained 2.3% on the day. Meanwhile, medical device and equipment makers such as are increasingly hogging investor attention, benefiting from long-term demand trends tied to an aging global population.
Impact on the ETF World
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV - Free Report) : Insurers Drag, But Pharma Lifts the Mood
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV - Free Report) houses Eli Lilly (12.29%), UnitedHealth (9%), and Johnson & Johnson (7.47%) among its top holdings. Overall, the fund lost 0.6% on the day.
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE): Pharma-Powered Rally
iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE - Free Report) saw a strong influx of investor interest as capital rotated into large-cap pharmaceutical stocks, spurred by Eli Lilly’s success.The rally came even as Novo Nordisk—a key competitor in the GLP-1 space—tumbled nearly 8%. IHE ETF jumped 4.6% on that day.
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH): Another Pharma Gainer
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH - Free Report) gained on the back of widespread strength in the pharmaceutical sector. Investor enthusiasm, driven by innovation-led sentiment from Eli Lilly’s news, supported a broad rally in drug stocks. The XPH ETF rose 2.2% on April 17.
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF - Free Report) : Hurt by Health Insurers’ Losses
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF - Free Report) is heavy on UNH, Elevance Health (ELV - Free Report) (down 2.4%), Humana (HUM - Free Report) (down 7.4%), CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) (down 1.84%). Due to the hit from these stocks, the fund dived over 6% on April 17.
Bottom Line
Thursday’s market activity delivered a crucial message: healthcare is not a rock-solid sector across the board. While insurers are facing headwinds currently, drugmakers are gaining momentum. The medical sector is expected to record 34.7% earnings growth in Q1 2025, on 7.5% higher revenues.
While political policy changes and earnings surprises will likely continue to shake up the sector, strong fundamentals in pharma—as well as the sector’s inherent safe-haven status—should bode well for the space.
Note that The SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF (XHS) andIHF have delivered strong relative returns over the past month. Despite losses of 2.3% and 3.6%, respectively, both outperformed the S&P 500’s 6.8% decline.
In early April, the U.S. government announced a more than 5% average increase in government reimbursement rates for 2026 Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers, a plus for healthcare providers. The significant increase is expected to generate $25 billion in additional revenue for the industry, the Wall Street Journal reported, as quoted on Forbes.
If the Republican government remains favorable to health insurers in the coming days, we can expect a rally in health insurer stocks as well, which in turn should benefit the broader medical sector.