Skip to main content

    Top Healthcare Stocks by Market Cap and Dividend Yield

    GNG Research tracks 918 healthcare stocks, from drug manufacturers and biotech companies to medical device makers, insurers and care providers. 80 of them pay a dividend, with a median forward yield of 1.48% among payers. The largest by market cap are Eli Lilly and Company (LLY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and AbbVie (ABBV). State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), the sector proxy used here, has a total return of +13.8% in 2026 through Oct 14, 2026, against +13.8% for the S&P 500 (SPY).

    Prices and yields use the latest available records. Returns through Oct 14, 2026.

    Loads every company on this page in the Research Terminal for deeper screening. A free account is required.

    Healthcare Sector Performance

    Calendar-year total returns of State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) and the S&P 500 (SPY), with dividends reinvested.

    YearHealthcare (XLV)S&P 500 (SPY)Difference
    2026 YTD+13.8%+13.8%+0.0 pts
    2025+14.5%+17.7%-3.2 pts
    2024+2.5%+24.9%-22.4 pts
    2023+2.1%+26.2%-24.1 pts
    2022-2.1%-18.2%+16.1 pts
    2021+26.0%+28.7%-2.7 pts
    2020+13.3%+18.4%-5.0 pts
    2019+20.4%+31.2%-10.8 pts
    2018+6.3%-4.6%+10.8 pts
    2017+21.8%+21.7%+0.1 pts
    2016-2.8%+12.0%-14.8 pts
    2015+6.8%+1.3%+5.6 pts
    2014+25.1%+13.5%+11.7 pts
    2013+41.4%+32.3%+9.1 pts
    2012+17.4%+16.0%+1.4 pts
    2011+12.4%+1.9%+10.5 pts
    2010+3.3%+15.1%-11.8 pts

    Total returns from daily closes with dividends reinvested and splits applied, using State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) as the sector proxy and SPY for the S&P 500. 2026 is year to date through Oct 14, 2026.

    Growth of $10,000 in XLV

    A $10,000 investment in State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) at the start of 2010, with dividends reinvested, against the same amount in the S&P 500 (SPY).

    $10,000 invested in XLV at the start of 2010 grew to $74,405 by Oct 14, 2026 with dividends reinvested, against $92,848 in SPY.

    Healthcare Stocks by Industry

    One listing per company; preferred shares, notes and funds are left out.

    IndustryCompaniesPay a dividendMedian forward yield
    Biotechnology48741.07%
    Medical Devices11391.27%
    Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic7092.63%
    Medical Instruments & Supplies48111.09%
    Diagnostics & Research4670.69%
    Health Information Services4653.13%
    Medical Care Facilities38100.88%
    Drug Manufacturers - General21172.34%
    Healthcare Plans1152.09%
    Medical Distribution830.70%
    Pharmaceutical Retailers50N/A

    Healthcare ETFs

    Funds that hold healthcare stocks. XLV is the sector proxy for the returns on this page; yields and expense ratios are the figures each fund's page shows.

    ETFExpense ratioNet assetsForward yield
    XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF0.08%$40.80B1.45%
    VHTVanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares0.09%$18.60B1.18%
    IYHiShares U.S. Healthcare ETF0.38%$3.50B1.02%

    Healthcare Stocks List

    All 918 healthcare stocks GNG Research tracks, largest first. Yield is the trailing 12-month dividend yield each stock page shows.

    LLY Eli Lilly and CompanyEli Lilly and Company$1.08T0.55%
    JNJ Johnson & JohnsonJohnson & Johnson$611.90B2.12%
    ABBV AbbVie IncAbbVie Inc$484.83B2.44%
    MRK Merck & Company IncMerck & Company Inc$363.59B2.34%
    UNH UnitedHealth Group IncorporatedUnitedHealth Group Incorporated$355.11B2.28%
    NVS Novartis AG ADRNovartis AG ADR$270.68B3.17%
    AZN AstraZeneca PLCAstraZeneca PLC$251.29B1.28%
    TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific IncThermo Fisher Scientific Inc$248.91B0.28%
    AMGN Amgen IncAmgen Inc$230.37B2.32%
    GILD Gilead Sciences IncGilead Sciences Inc$190.38B2.08%
    ABT Abbott LaboratoriesAbbott Laboratories$178.18B2.41%
    NVO Novo Nordisk A/SNovo Nordisk A/S$167.96B4.58%
    PFE Pfizer IncPfizer Inc$166.49B5.85%
    DHR Danaher CorporationDanaher Corporation$157.95B0.69%
    ISRG Intuitive Surgical IncIntuitive Surgical Inc$148.46BN/A
    VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc$126.35BN/A
    BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb CompanyBristol-Myers Squibb Company$121.09B4.16%
    MDT Medtronic PLCMedtronic PLC$120.53B3.06%
    MCK McKesson CorporationMcKesson Corporation$113.86B0.38%
    CVS CVS Health CorpCVS Health Corp$111.97B2.87%
    SYK Stryker CorporationStryker Corporation$108.02B1.20%
    HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc.HCA Healthcare, Inc.$101.85B0.68%
    SNY Sanofi ADRSanofi ADR$95.29B6.19%
    GSK GlaxoSmithKline PLC ADRGlaxoSmithKline PLC ADR$92.70B3.68%
    ELV Elevance Health IncElevance Health Inc$92.23B1.61%
    MRNA Moderna IncModerna Inc$90.35BN/A
    REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals IncRegeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc$80.14B0.47%
    CI Cigna CorpCigna Corp$76.52B2.09%
    COR Cencora Inc.Cencora Inc.$64.15B0.70%
    BSX Boston Scientific CorpBoston Scientific Corp$62.32BN/A
    TAK Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd ADRTakeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd ADR$60.73B3.24%
    CAH Cardinal Health IncCardinal Health Inc$57.37B0.81%
    NTRA Natera IncNatera Inc$57.03BN/A
    BDX Becton Dickinson and CompanyBecton Dickinson and Company$51.45B2.17%
    HUM Humana IncHumana Inc$51.32B0.82%
    ARGX argenx NV ADRargenx NV ADR$50.85BN/A
    EW Edwards Lifesciences CorpEdwards Lifesciences Corp$49.83BN/A
    A Agilent Technologies IncAgilent Technologies Inc$49.06B0.58%
    VEEV Veeva Systems Inc Class AVeeva Systems Inc Class A$48.14BN/A
    TEVA Teva Pharma Industries Ltd ADRTeva Pharma Industries Ltd ADR$47.49BN/A
    IQV IQVIA Holdings IncIQVIA Holdings Inc$43.12BN/A
    WAT Waters CorporationWaters Corporation$42.87BN/A
    HLN Haleon plcHaleon plc$42.10B2.02%
    RVMD Revolution Medicines IncRevolution Medicines Inc$41.48BN/A
    ILMN Illumina IncIllumina Inc$41.04BN/A
    IDXX IDEXX Laboratories IncIDEXX Laboratories Inc$40.99BN/A
    ONC BeiGene, Ltd.BeiGene, Ltd.$39.99BN/A
    CNC Centene CorpCentene Corp$34.66BN/A
    BIIB Biogen IncBiogen Inc$34.40BN/A
    RPRX Royalty Pharma PlcRoyalty Pharma Plc$34.09B1.66%
    RMD ResMed IncResMed Inc$33.06B1.09%
    MTD Mettler-Toledo International IncMettler-Toledo International Inc$32.29BN/A
    DXCM DexCom IncDexCom Inc$31.50BN/A
    GEHC GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.$31.15B0.20%
    ZTS Zoetis IncZoetis Inc$31.11B2.70%
    WST West Pharmaceutical Services IncWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc$26.37B0.23%
    LH Laboratory Corporation of America HoldingsLaboratory Corporation of America Holdings$25.77B0.89%
    DGX Quest Diagnostics IncorporatedQuest Diagnostics Incorporated$25.76B1.44%
    ROIV Roivant Sciences LtdRoivant Sciences Ltd$24.99BN/A
    PHG Koninklijke Philips NV ADRKoninklijke Philips NV ADR$24.33B3.97%
    UTHR United Therapeutics CorporationUnited Therapeutics Corporation$23.16BN/A
    GMAB Genmab ASGenmab AS$22.68BN/A
    INCY Incyte CorporationIncyte Corporation$22.61BN/A
    THC Tenet Healthcare CorporationTenet Healthcare Corporation$21.87BN/A
    INSM Insmed IncInsmed Inc$21.36BN/A
    STE STERIS plcSTERIS plc$21.18B1.27%
    VTRS Viatris IncViatris Inc$20.03B2.63%
    EXAS EXACT Sciences CorporationEXACT Sciences Corporation$19.91BN/A
    ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings IncZimmer Biomet Holdings Inc$17.56B1.02%
    HOLX Hologic IncHologic Inc$17.17BN/A
    MEDP Medpace Holdings IncMedpace Holdings Inc$17.02BN/A
    RVTY Revvity Inc.Revvity Inc.$16.97B0.18%
    EXEL Exelixis IncExelixis Inc$15.11BN/A
    SOLV Solventum Corp.Solventum Corp.$14.85BN/A
    ASND Ascendis Pharma ASAscendis Pharma AS$14.69BN/A
    CRL Charles River LaboratoriesCharles River Laboratories$14.40BN/A
    NBIX Neurocrine Biosciences IncNeurocrine Biosciences Inc$13.82BN/A
    JAZZ Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLCJazz Pharmaceuticals PLC$13.61BN/A
    HALO Halozyme Therapeutics IncHalozyme Therapeutics Inc$13.26BN/A
    ICLR ICON PLCICON PLC$13.04BN/A
    SMMT Summit Therapeutics PLCSummit Therapeutics PLC$12.82BN/A
    BAX Baxter International IncBaxter International Inc$12.82B0.16%
    BBIO BridgeBio Pharma IncBridgeBio Pharma Inc$12.70BN/A
    PEN Penumbra IncPenumbra Inc$12.61BN/A
    BTSG BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common StockBrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock$12.53BN/A
    EHC Encompass Health CorpEncompass Health Corp$12.49B0.66%
    TEM Tempus AI, Inc. Class A Common StockTempus AI, Inc. Class A Common Stock$12.33BN/A
    SNN Smith & Nephew SNATS IncSmith & Nephew SNATS Inc$11.67B2.85%
    DVA DaVita HealthCare Partners IncDaVita HealthCare Partners Inc$11.60BN/A
    TECH Bio-Techne CorpBio-Techne Corp$11.37B0.44%
    RGEN Repligen CorporationRepligen Corporation$11.31BN/A
    ELAN Elanco Animal HealthElanco Animal Health$11.26BN/A
    FMS Fresenius Medical Care CorporationFresenius Medical Care Corporation$11.22B3.94%
    PCVX Vaxcyte IncVaxcyte Inc$11.04BN/A
    UHS Universal Health Services IncUniversal Health Services Inc$10.96B0.43%
    MOH Molina Healthcare IncMolina Healthcare Inc$10.92BN/A
    RDY Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd ADRDr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd ADR$10.64B0.50%
    OSCR Oscar Health IncOscar Health Inc$10.59BN/A
    IBRX Immunitybio IncImmunitybio Inc$10.50BN/A
    MDGL Madrigal Pharmaceuticals IncMadrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc$10.45BN/A

    Showing 100 of 918 companies

    About Healthcare

    Healthcare covers drug makers, biotechnology companies, medical device and instrument makers, health insurers and care providers.

    Demand for medical care is steadier than most spending, while results for drug and biotech companies often turn on clinical trials, regulatory approvals and patent protection.

    Research Healthcare Stocks

    • Screen healthcare stocks by dividend yield, payout ratio and valuation in the free dividend stock screener. A free account is required, and the View in Research Terminal button above loads every company on this page.
    • Open any company for its full stock analysis, or its dividend page for ex-dividend dates and payment history, such as the LLY dividend history.
    • Chart a company's P/E ratio, price and dividends over time with Advanced Charting, free with a free GNG account.
    • Test a portfolio of healthcare stocks or sector ETFs with the free dividend portfolio backtest tool.
    • Project the dividend income from healthcare stocks in the Dividend Forecaster (Pro Lite and up).
    • Follow the companies you are researching in a free watchlist.

    Other Stock Sectors

    Median forward dividend yield among each sector's dividend payers, and each sector ETF's total return this year.

    SectorMedian forward yield2026 return
    Real Estate Stocks5.30%+5.3%
    Utility Stocks3.57%-0.2%
    Communication Services Stocks3.49%-5.0%
    Consumer Defensive Stocks3.27%+12.9%
    Energy Stocks3.05%+54.3%
    Financial Sector Stocks2.89%+0.8%
    Consumer Cyclical Stocks2.54%-6.0%
    Industrial Stocks1.48%+8.5%
    Healthcare Stocks1.48%+13.8%
    Basic Materials Stocks1.32%+10.9%
    Technology Stocks1.28%+32.7%

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the top healthcare stocks by market cap?

    Eli Lilly and Company (LLY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and AbbVie (ABBV) are the largest healthcare stocks by market cap, at $1.08T, $611.90B and $484.83B.

    Which healthcare stocks pay dividends?

    Among healthcare stocks worth at least $1 billion with forward yields up to 25%, the highest forward dividend yields are Dentsply Sirona (XRAY) at 7.25%, Perrigo Company (PRGO) at 7.03% and Sanofi (SNY) at 6.19%. 80 healthcare stocks on this page pay a dividend, with a median forward yield of 1.48%.

    How has the healthcare sector performed?

    State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), used here as the sector proxy, returned +13.8% in 2026 through Oct 14, 2026 and +14.5% in 2025, with dividends reinvested. The S&P 500 (SPY) returned +13.8% and +17.7% over the same periods.

    What are healthcare stocks?

    Healthcare covers drug makers, biotechnology companies, medical device and instrument makers, health insurers and care providers. GNG Research tracks 918 healthcare stocks.

    Which ETFs hold healthcare stocks?

    GNG Research covers 3 ETFs that hold healthcare stocks: XLV (State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF, 0.08% expense ratio), VHT (Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares, 0.09% expense ratio) and IYH (iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF, 0.38% expense ratio). XLV is the sector proxy for the returns on this page.

    Market data is provided for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. GNG Research's proprietary safety, quality, and valuation scores are available to members on each stock page.

    Get full access to GNG Research

    Create a free account to access portfolio tracking, advanced tools, and more.