Invest in health stocks: A list of health stocks to buy in 2024

The best health stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

5 popular health stocks picks to buy in 2024

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the health industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.

1. Eli Lilly and Company (LLY)
2. Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)
3. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)
4. Johnson-and-Johnson (JNJ)
5. Merck-and-Company (MRK)

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If you don't have the time or expertise to research stocks on your own, consider stock picking services and research tools to help you choose.

Take a deeper dive into health stocks

If you're interested in investing in the health industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.

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1. Eli Lilly and Company (LLY)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. It also provides oncology products, including Alimta, Cyramza, Erbitux, Jaypirca, Retevmo, Tyvyt, and Verzenio.

Eli Lilly and Company stock opened the day at $723.48 after a previous close of $724.87. The latest price was $733.51 (25-minute delay). Eli Lilly and Company is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD34.1 billion and employs 43,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $708,976,836,608
• P/E ratio: 126.6782
• PEG ratio: 1.4311

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2. Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products for diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, and other emerging therapy areas.

Novo Nordisk A/S stock opened the day at $126.15 after a previous close of $125.79. The latest price was $126.85 (25-minute delay). Novo Nordisk A/S is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$232.3 billion and employs 63,370 staff.

• Market capitalization: $562,841,387,008
• P/E ratio: 47.4286
• PEG ratio: 2.3998

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3. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated stock opened the day at $492.00 after a previous close of $493.86. The latest price was $495.35 (25-minute delay). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$379.5 billion and employs 440,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $448,354,975,744
• P/E ratio: 29.7679
• PEG ratio: 1.2393

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4. Johnson-and-Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use. Its MedTech segment provides Interventional Solutions, including electrophysiology products to treat heart rhythm disorders; the heart recovery portfolio, which includes technologies to treat severe coronary artery disease requiring high-risk PCI or AMI cardiogenic shock; and neurovascular care that treats hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke.

Johnson-and-Johnson stock opened the day at $146.70 after a previous close of $146.82. The latest price was $146.14 (25-minute delay). Johnson-and-Johnson is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$85.6 billion and employs 131,900 staff.

• Market capitalization: $357,924,601,856
• P/E ratio: 19.9906
• PEG ratio: 0.8879

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5. Merck-and-Company (MRK)

Merck & Co. , Inc. operates as a healthcare company worldwide.

Merck-and-Company stock opened the day at $130.13 after a previous close of $130.72. The latest price was $131.20 (25-minute delay). Merck-and-Company is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$60.1 billion and employs 70,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $321,694,793,728
• P/E ratio: 907.1429
• PEG ratio: 0.1008

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How to invest in health stocks

1. Choose a stock trading platform. If you don't already have a stock trading account, go straight to the best stock trading apps of 2024 and choose one.
2. Go through the sign up process. Sign up for an account by providing your personal information.
3. Set up a funding method. Once you are all set up for transactions, you can deposit funds into your account by linking your banking information.
4. Choose the stocks you want to buy. Search for the stock by name or ticker symbol like LLY or NVO.
5. Place your order. Buy the stock. It's that simple.

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Bottom line

While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in health stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — health stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market and in the health industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.

A to Z list of health stocks