Stocks sank this morning as investors processed yesterday’s comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Following a 0.5% interest rate increase, Powell said the Fed will continue hiking rates through 2023 to a rate of 5.1%. Including the most recent half-a percentage point hike, the targeted range for interest rates is currently 4.25% to 4.5%, the highest in 15 years. Market participants are concerned the central bank could tip the economy into a recession in its battle against inflation.
Traditionally one of the most stable and recession-resistant sectors, everyone needs healthcare at some point regardless of income status. “The defensive aspects of the sector, while not fully appreciated at times over the past few years, is beginning to kick-in in a rather meaningful way,” said Jared Holz, a healthcare strategist at Oppenheimer.
Today we’re focusing on a name offering defensive growth from the desirable healthcare sector with a bevy of built-in advantages over peers from the group.
A name offering defensive growth from the desirable sector currently is UnitedHealth Group (UNH). As the largest health insurance company by market cap and market share, UNH’s size gives it built-in advantages over peers from the group.
Despite the market slowdown this year, UNH’s share price is up more than 7%, outperforming its peers and the broader market. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) is down 1% YTD, while the S&P 500 has shed more than 17%.
Due to UnitedHealth’s rapidly expanding reach, Q3 revenue was up 12% from the same quarter last year to $80.89 billion. Earnings came in at $5.79 a share, surpassing the consensus estimate of $5.42 per share. In the third quarter, the company reported expanding its customer base by approximately 850,000, including 185,000. “The strength of our performance reflects the diligence and determination of our colleagues to improve people’s experience across the health care system and make high-quality care simpler, more accessible, and more affordable,” said Andrew Witty, CEO of UNH. The company also increased its 2022 EPS view to $21.85-$22.05 from $21.40-$21.90. The consensus expectation is at the low end of the company’s forecast, at $21.87, suggesting that the pros on Wall Street may not be giving enough credit to the health insurance giant.
Momentum should be supported in the coming years thanks to UNH’s strong market position and attractive core business. Its international business expansion provides substantial diversification benefits and shields against the impact of tightening U.S. regulations while allowing the Dow giant to tap into the $8.3 trillion spent annually on global healthcare.
UnitedHealth has a solid history of rewarding investors with a steady paycheck. The company went to a quarterly dividend in 2010 and, since then, has increased its dividend every year. That includes a 16% bump last year to $1.45 a share, which works out to a yield of 1.23% at its current price. UNH’s payout has increased 31% over the past five years, and the stock has a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 17.18%. The stock looks like a value at about 26 times earnings, compared to the healthcare industry, where the average P/E is around 34.
