12 Best Healthcare stocks to Buy and Hold for 5 Years

Core Insights - The article discusses the 12 best healthcare stocks to buy and hold for five years, highlighting the role of AI in improving healthcare services and addressing insurance denials [1][4]. Group 1: AI in Healthcare - Dr. Warris Bokhari's platform utilizes AI to appeal health insurance denials for approximately 70 autoimmune diseases, addressing a significant issue where 850 million denials occur annually in the U.S. [2][3]. - The platform was launched on October 2, 2024, and aims to assist patients in navigating care denials by generating appeal letters based on healthcare plans [4]. Group 2: Stock Selection Methodology - The selection of the top healthcare stocks was based on criteria including EPS growth of over 10% in the past five years, an expected EPS growth rate of at least 20% over the next five years, and a forward PE ratio greater than 20 [6]. - The final ranking of stocks was influenced by the number of hedge fund holders as tracked by the Insider Monkey database as of Q2 2025 [6][7]. Group 3: Company Highlights - Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG): Pioneered robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery with its da Vinci systems, which are used globally. The company introduced advanced software features for its da Vinci 5 system in September 2025, enhancing surgical capabilities [9][10]. - Doximity, Inc. (NYSE:DOCS): A leading healthcare technology stock that completed the acquisition of Pathway Medical, enhancing its AI-driven tools. The company reported a 15% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $145.9 million for the quarter ending June 30, 2025 [13][15]. - Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN): A leader in thrombectomy and vascular intervention technologies, recently introduced the Ruby XL System and the Lightning Bolt 6X device, expanding its product offerings and market reach [16][18].