Health Care Sector Mixed as Stocks Push Sector Lower and Higher

Strategic Insights -

The health care sector is experiencing mixed trading on Monday, August 17, 2015, with some companies pushing the sector lower and others pushing it higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading up 56 points (0.3%) at 17,533 as of 12:55 PM ET, with the NYSE advances/declines ratio sitting at 1,658 issues advancing vs. 1,301 declining with 196 unchanged. Within the sector, one company fell, while others gained, including Parexel International, Centene, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Aetna, and St Jude Medical.

Key Takeaways:

  • Shire (SHPG) fell 1.3% despite trading higher than the sector average.
  • Top gainers within the sector include Parexel International (PRXL) up 8.4%, Centene (CNC) up 2.8%, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) up 2.5%, Aetna (AET) up 1.9%, and St Jude Medical (STJ) up 1.9%.
  • Three companies within the sector that fell today include Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (FMS) down $0.47 (-1.1%) to $40.68, Icon (ICLR) down $3.10 (-3.8%) to $79.21, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) down $3.70 (-0.6%) to $572.60.
  • Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA has a market cap of $25.5 billion and is part of the health services industry, with shares up 10.8% year-to-date.
  • Icon has a market cap of $4.9 billion and is part of the health services industry, with shares up 61.4% year-to-date.
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $58.4 billion and is part of the drugs industry, with shares up 40.5% year-to-date.

Statistics:

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: 17,533 (up 56 points, 0.3%).
  • NYSE advances/declines ratio: 1,658 issues advancing vs. 1,301 declining with 196 unchanged.
  • Health Care sector: up 1.1% versus the S&P 500, which is up 0.3%.
  • Shire (SHPG) traded down 1.3% with average volume 86,650 shares.
  • Parexel International (PRXL) traded up 8.4% with average volume 1.5 million shares.
  • Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (FMS) traded down $0.47 (-1.1%) to $40.68 with average volume 86,650 shares.
  • Icon (ICLR) traded down $3.10 (-3.8%) to $79.21 with average volume 1.5 million shares.
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) traded down $3.70 (-0.6%) to $572.60 with average volume 152,170 shares.

Sources:

  • TheStreet Wire
  • TheStreet.com - quotes for SHPG, PRXL, FMS, ICLR, REGN, XLV, and RXD
  • TheStreet Ratings reports for FMS and ICLR