INVESTING in healthcare companies could turn out to be a win-win for those of us who are prepared to accept that we are not superhuman, but mortal in every possible way.As we’re far from invincible, we might even need to call on the services of one or more healthcare companies now and again.So, investing in healthcare companies could serve two useful purposes. First, it could ensure that the companies we like, and could one day need, are well-funded. Second, and perhaps a little selfishly, it could be a gre ...

Getty Images Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Paramount Skydance nominating its own Warner directors. (0:15) Ex-Fed chiefs defend Jerome Powell as DOJ subpoenas roil independence. (1:12) Credit card issuers slide after Trump touts 10% rate cap. (2:13) This is an abridged transcript of the podcast: Our top story so far, Paramount is making its move on Warner’s board. Paramount Skydance (PSKY) says it plans to nominate directors to Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and has filed suit ...

Most older adults and retirees would agree that health care is near the top of their list of concerns. It’s not just the uncertainty of facing a medical condition or the associated costs. The sheer complexity of the American health care system also keeps many people up at night. About six in ten adults surveyed by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) said they were either “very” or “somewhat” worried about being able to afford the cost of health care services (1). Meanwhile, another survey from the same fou ...

Key TakeawaysUS equity markets opened lower on Monday, January 12, 2026, with the Dow Jones down 0.62%, the S&P 500 falling 0.43%, and the Nasdaq dropping 0.39%, as investor sentiment was weighed down by concerns over Federal Reserve independence.Fears regarding the prosecution of Fed Chair Powell by the Justice Department, which Powell claims is a pretext to influence monetary policy, led to a rise in long-term Treasury yields and a weaker dollar, with analysts suggesting a potential boost to hawkish monet ...

Guides year-end 2026 health plan membership range of 290,000 to 296,000. Announces its expectation that consensus adjusted EBITDA of approximately $145 million in 2026 will be within its full-year 2026 guidance range.Reaffirms its full-year 2025 guidance ranges on health plan membership, revenue, adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA. ORANGE, Calif., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alignment Healthcare, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALHC), an award-winning Medicare Advantage (MA) company, today announced Jan. 1 healt ...

Health insurer UnitedHealth Group used aggressive tactics to gather diagnoses that can boost Medicare Advantage payments, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing a U.S. Senate committee investigating the company's practices. ...

ipopba / iStock via Getty Images Quick Read FHLC charges just 0.084% in fees but carries 13% concentration in Eli Lilly. The fund gained 17.9% over one year but returned only 154% over ten years versus the S&P 500’s 235%. Enhanced ACA premium tax credits face 87.5% probability of expiring by January 31 2026. Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected. Healthcare investing offers ...

Core Insights - Healthcare investing is characterized by defensive traits during market volatility, but regulatory and political risks can lead to abrupt selloffs [1] - Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) offers a low-cost entry point for investors seeking exposure to the healthcare sector without selecting individual stocks [1] Fund Overview - FHLC tracks the MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index, providing exposure to U.S. healthcare companies across various segments including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and health insurance [2] - The fund has an expense ratio of 0.084% and includes over 80 holdings, focusing on capital appreciation and modest dividend income [2] Concentration Risk - Eli Lilly constitutes over 13% of FHLC's portfolio, linking its performance closely to GLP-1 obesity drugs, which have seen a 46% increase in stock price over the past year [3] - The top five holdings also include UnitedHealth, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and AbbVie [3] Performance Analysis - FHLC has shown strong short-term performance, gaining 5.3% in the last month and 17.9% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 [4] - However, over five years, FHLC returned 42.6%, significantly lagging behind the S&P 500's 84.5% return, with a widening gap over ten years (154% vs. 235%) [4] Sector Challenges - The underperformance of FHLC reflects broader challenges in the healthcare sector, including drug pricing pressures and slower innovation cycles outside oncology and rare diseases [5] - Recent momentum may indicate potential sector rotation, but investing after outperformance carries inherent risks [5] Policy and Income Considerations - Investors face political and regulatory uncertainties, with an 87.5% probability that enhanced ACA premium tax credits will expire by January 2026, impacting health insurers like UnitedHealth [7] - FHLC's yield of 1.33% is considered modest compared to other market alternatives, with dividend growth of approximately 4.6% annually over five years, barely keeping pace with inflation [8] Suitability for Investors - Growth-focused investors seeking maximum capital appreciation may find FHLC unsuitable due to its long-term underperformance [9] - Retirees prioritizing income generation may also find better yield opportunities in other sectors without sacrificing stability [9] Alternative Options - Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) is presented as an alternative, with a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.09%, larger asset base of $20.4 billion, and a higher dividend yield of 1.38% [11] - VHT's longer track record since 2004 and superior liquidity may provide additional confidence for long-term investors [11] Tactical Allocation - FHLC may serve as a tactical allocation for investors seeking low-cost exposure to the healthcare sector, but concentration risk and historical underperformance necessitate careful position sizing [12]

Key Takeaways If you're planning to buy or have already bought health insurance off the exchange this year, your premiums may have surged. And if you're not careful, you could be on the hook for a huge tax bill next year. At the start of the year, enhanced premium tax credits, a type of subsidy for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums, expired. These temporary subsidies were enacted in 2021 and reduced the cost of health insurance premiums for those making more than 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL)—or ...

Core Viewpoint - Humana Inc. is set to release its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025 on February 11, 2026, along with management remarks in PDF format [1] Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will be available at 6:00 a.m. Eastern time on the specified date [1] - A live question-and-answer session will take place at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss the quarterly results and earnings guidance for 2026 [1] Access to Information - A webcast of the 4Q25 earnings call can be accessed through Humana's Investor Relations page [1]