Competition Is Heating Up, but Here's Why Intuitive Surgical Might Still Be the Smartest Bet in MedTech

Intuitive Surgical faces new competition from Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson in the surgical robotics space, but maintains a strong market position with 11,710 da Vinci systems in use globally. The company's real strength lies in its recurring revenue from instruments, accessories, and services (75% of revenue), rather than system sales alone. Despite a 40% stock decline and a 42x P/E ratio, the company's large installed base and annuity-like income streams provide a competitive moat that positions it favorably for growth-oriented investors.

08/08/2026, 12:15 PM • The Motley Fool

iShares Global Healthcare ETF vs State Street SPDR Biotech ETF. Which Healthcare-Focused Fund Will Bring You Profits in 2026 and Beyond?

The article compares two healthcare-focused ETFs: iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) and State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI). XBI delivered superior 1-year returns of 80.2% with small-cap biotech focus but carries higher volatility (54% max drawdown). IXJ offers more stability with lower volatility, higher dividend yield (1.4%), and international diversification across large-cap pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. The analysis recommends XBI for long-term investors prioritizing performance despite greater risk.

08/08/2026, 12:02 PM • The Motley Fool

Vanguard Health Care ETF vs State Street XLV: Which ETF Is the Better Buy for Investors in 2026?

The article compares two healthcare sector ETFs: Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) with 423 holdings and State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) with 60 holdings. While XLV has slightly lower expenses (0.08% vs 0.09%) and better 5-year returns, VHT outperforms on 1-year returns and offers broader diversification. The analysis recommends VHT for long-term investors due to superior recent performance and lower concentration risk.

08/08/2026, 11:33 AM • The Motley Fool

Worried About the Market? These Stocks Have a Track Record of Helping Investors Sleep at Night.

The article recommends three healthcare dividend growth stocks for investors seeking portfolio stability during market volatility: Johnson & Johnson (a Dividend King with 64 consecutive years of dividend increases), UnitedHealth Group (rebounding after recent challenges with a 2.26% yield), and McKesson (the largest U.S. pharmaceutical distributor with steady dividend growth). Healthcare is highlighted as a defensive sector due to non-discretionary spending patterns.

08/06/2026, 10:15 AM • The Motley Fool

State Street XLV vs VanEck BBH: Which Healthcare ETF Is the Better Buy in 2026?

State Street's XLV healthcare ETF offers broader exposure with lower costs (0.08% expense ratio) and higher dividend yield (1.6%), delivering 30% more growth over five years with lower volatility. VanEck's BBH biotech ETF provides concentrated exposure to 25 biotech stocks with higher recent returns but greater risk, making XLV the better choice for long-term investors seeking defensive characteristics.

08/05/2026, 3:02 PM • The Motley Fool

Helus Pharma Appoints Michael Halstead as Chief Executive Officer

Helus Pharma announced the appointment of Michael Halstead as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Halstead brings 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, including his recent role as President of Intra-Cellular Therapies during its $14.6 billion acquisition by Johnson & Johnson. The appointment comes as Helus Pharma completes enrollment in the APPROACH Phase 3 study of HLP003 for adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, with topline data expected in Q4 2026.

08/03/2026, 7:40 AM • GlobeNewswire

XLV vs. IBBQ: Is Broad Healthcare Exposure or Biotech Growth the Better ETF Buy?

XLV, a broad healthcare ETF, offers lower costs (0.08% expense ratio) and higher dividend yield (1.60%) with more stability, while IBBQ, a concentrated biotech ETF, delivered stronger one-year returns (45.52% vs 26.79%) but with significantly higher volatility and drawdown risk. The choice depends on investor risk tolerance and investment objectives.

08/01/2026, 5:11 PM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: Eli Lilly Will Be Worth $2 Trillion by 2031

Eli Lilly is positioned to become the first healthcare company to reach a $2 trillion market cap by 2031, requiring a 12.7% compound annual growth rate. The company's GLP-1 drug portfolio, led by tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), is expected to drive strong revenue growth despite increasing competition. Additional growth catalysts include new product launches like Foundayo, pipeline candidates such as retatrutide, and AI-driven cost efficiencies across the organization.

08/01/2026, 4:17 PM • The Motley Fool

Healthcare Stocks Are Having a Good Year. Should You Buy a Fidelity or iShares ETF to Profit?

The article compares two healthcare-focused ETFs: Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) and iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH). FHLC is recommended as the better choice due to its significantly lower expense ratio (0.08% vs 0.38%), broader diversification with 334 holdings versus 100, and consistent outperformance across multiple time periods. Over 10 years, a $10,000 investment in FHLC would have yielded approximately $1,900 more than IYH.

08/01/2026, 1:28 PM • The Motley Fool

If You Invest $1,000 in the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF Right Now and Never Add Another Dollar, Here's What History Says It Could Deliver in 20 Years

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) has historically delivered a 9.32% annualized total return since 2006, outperforming non-dividend stocks. Based on historical performance, a $1,000 investment could grow to nearly $6,000 in 20 years through compounding, representing a ~500% total return. The ETF's broad diversification across 600+ stocks and low expense ratio make it suitable for long-term buy-and-hold investors seeking passive income.

08/01/2026, 10:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Abbott Laboratories vs. Johnson & Johnson: Which Healthcare Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Abbott Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson are compared as healthcare investments for 2026. Abbott trades at lower valuations with expected 13% sales growth but faces litigation risks and slower growth in key products like FreeStyle Libre. Johnson & Johnson offers superior profitability and a robust pharmaceutical pipeline with 28 billion-dollar products, though it faces talc settlement costs and biosimilar competition. Abbott is recommended as the better buy due to stronger expected sales growth and lower valuation metrics.

07/31/2026, 3:29 PM • The Motley Fool

Johnson & Johnson Just Got FDA Clearance for Its Surgical Robot, Hiked Its Dividend for the 64th Time, and Is Targeting $100 Billion in Revenue. But Here's What Investors Should Be Most Excited About

Johnson & Johnson is experiencing strong performance with stock up 28% YTD, driven by FDA clearance for its Ottava surgical robot, 64 consecutive years of dividend increases, and $100 billion revenue target. Most significantly, the company reached a proposed $5.5 billion settlement to resolve thousands of talc-related lawsuits, potentially eliminating a major legal risk. The company maintains resilience through diversified products and continues innovation with new drug approvals.

07/30/2026, 4:15 PM • The Motley Fool

VHT vs. PBE: Which Health Care ETF Is the Better Buy?

The Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) offers broad healthcare exposure with a low 0.09% expense ratio and 423 holdings, while the Invesco Biotechnology & Genome ETF (PBE) provides focused biotech exposure with 31 holdings and higher growth potential. PBE delivered a stronger 40.88% one-year return but experienced greater volatility with a 37.84% maximum drawdown, while VHT returned 27.85% with lower risk. VHT suits conservative investors seeking steady, low-cost exposure, while PBE appeals to risk-tolerant investors chasing biotech innovation.

07/30/2026, 9:09 AM • The Motley Fool

Forget Weight Loss Drugs: Here's Another Reason to Buy Eli Lilly Stock

Eli Lilly is acquiring AtaiBeckley for $2.8 billion to expand beyond weight loss drugs into mental health treatments, including psychedelic-based therapies for treatment-resistant depression. This is the company's 12th acquisition this year and represents a strategic diversification effort, though the mental health market is smaller than the weight loss segment.

07/29/2026, 8:06 AM • The Motley Fool

Johnson & Johnson vs. Eli Lilly: Reliable Stability vs. Rapid Revenue Growth

Johnson & Johnson maintains steady but modest revenue growth with strong dividend yields and diversified operations, while Eli Lilly demonstrates rapid revenue expansion driven by blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. Eli Lilly's revenue has nearly doubled over two years, narrowing the gap with J&J, though investors should monitor patent expiration risks and product concentration for both companies.

07/29/2026, 7:24 AM • The Motley Fool