Stryker Stock: Is SYK Underperforming the Healthcare Sector?

Core Insights - Stryker Corporation is a leading medical technology company with a market cap of $143.4 billion, providing innovative products and services across various medical fields [1][2] Company Performance - Stryker impacts over 150 million patients annually and operates in nearly 75 countries, employing around 53,000 people [2] - The stock reached an all-time high of $406.19 on January 28 but is currently trading 8.3% below that peak, having dropped 5.6% over the past three months, underperforming the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLV) 15.6% increase during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, Stryker's stock has gained 3.4% but has dipped 4.5% over the past 52 weeks, while XLV has surged 15.2% in 2025 and gained 8.4% over the past year [4] - The stock has remained below its 50-day moving average since early August and below its 200-day moving average since mid-September, indicating a downturn [4] Financial Results - In Q3, Stryker reported a 9.5% increase in organic sales year-over-year, driven by a 9.1% increase in volumes and a 40 basis points rise in prices [5] - Overall net sales increased 10.3% year-over-year to $6.1 billion, exceeding expectations by 24 basis points [5] - Adjusted EPS surged 11.1% year-over-year to $3.19, surpassing consensus estimates by 1.6% [5] - Despite better-than-expected results, the stock dropped 3.5% in the trading session following the Q3 results release [5] Peer Comparison - Stryker has underperformed compared to Boston Scientific Corporation, which has achieved 13% gains year-to-date and 11.9% returns over the past year [6]