Etftrendsยท2025-10-15 11:56Core Insights - The healthcare sector has emerged as the best performing S&P 500 sector in October, reversing its previous lagging position [1] - The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) has gained nearly 4.5% this quarter, while the broader S&P 500 remains largely flat [1] - XLV has attracted approximately $872 million in net new money by October 13, making it one of the top 10 equity ETF asset gatherers this quarter [1] Sector Performance - Prior to October, healthcare had experienced outflows of 6% of its start-of-the-year total assets, indicating a significant shift in investor sentiment [3] - The healthcare sector is characterized as defensive, less vulnerable to cyclical trends, and is currently trading at about a 27% discount to the S&P 500 [3][5] - State Street Investment Management projects XLV's 3-5 year earnings growth at 9.3%, compared to the S&P 500's forecast of 12% [3] Stock-Level Insights - Major healthcare stocks have performed well in October, with Eli Lilly up over 12%, Merck up 8%, Amgen up 7.5%, and Gilead up over 5% [5] - XLV, as the largest healthcare ETF with over $36 billion in assets, serves as a market-cap weighted proxy for the sector [6] Future Outlook - The healthcare sector's unique combination of valuation, growth potential, and defensive characteristics may continue to attract investor interest, especially amid macroeconomic uncertainties [7]