In this article, we will list the 5 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy for the Long Term. Please visit 10 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy for the Long Term if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.
5. Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47
Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEC) is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy for the long term. Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEC) received several rating updates following the release of its fiscal Q1 2026 results on May 5, with surgical revenue growing 17% and total revenue growing 14%. Canaccord cut the price target on the stock to $23 from $25 on May 7, but maintained a Buy rating on the shares, stating that the company posted an uncharacteristic miss in the quarter with its EOS business declining 18% year over year. It added that Alphatec Holdings’ (NASDAQ:ATEC) surgical business was more in line with expectations, with 21% case volume growth and 23% net new surgeon growth, but another quarter of weak rev/case growth against shifting regional/procedural/biologics mix.
The same day, Piper Sandler also cut the price target on Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEC), bringing it down to $14 from $25 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm was of the view that the company reported fiscal Q1 results below expectations, driven by a disappointing EOS quarter and softer-than-expected revenue per case on mix headwinds.
Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEC) designs, develops, and markets spinal fusion technology products and solutions to treat spinal disorders. The company’s offerings include intra-operative information and neuromonitoring technologies, fixation systems, access systems, interbody implants, and various biologics offerings.
4. BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy for the long term. Evercore ISI lifted the price target on BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) to $120 from $110 on May 5, reaffirming an Outperform rating on the shares. In a separate development, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) announced on May 2 new research from studies of VOXZOGO® in children with achondroplasia exhibiting positive impacts on important health indicators, including arm span and bone density. The data, along with new data from studies of VOXZOGO in hypochondroplasia, will be presented by the company at the Pediatric Endocrine Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting (PES) in San Francisco.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) also reported that data from the three ongoing long-term extension clinical trials showed the effects of long-term treatment with VOXZOGO on measures beyond height, including bone health and arm span. In addition, management reported that children who initiated treatment with VOXZOGO after age 5 also attained a mean difference in standing height of 10.60 cm after six years of treatment and 13.59 cm after eight years of treatment, compared with untreated natural history cohorts.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) develops and commercializes therapies for serious and life-threatening medical conditions and rare diseases. The company’s product pipeline includes Valoctocogene roxaparvovec, Vosoritide, and BMN 307.
3. Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64
Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy for the long term. Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) received several rating updates following the release of financial results for fiscal Q1 2026 on May 5, where it reported strong commercial execution across franchises with total revenues of $1.1 billion, up 19% year-over-year.
Raymond James lifted the price target on Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) to $239 from $227 on May 7, reaffirming an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm told investors in a research note that the company is up 25% year-to-date, with investors beginning to understand that Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) is in the early innings of a transformation from a spec pharma story to an innovation-led biotech story. This holds especially true following Zani’s highly competitive readout in 1L GEA and priority review, according to the firm.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) also received a rating update from TD Cowen the same day, with the firm lifting the price target on the stock to $275 from $220 and maintaining a Buy rating on the shares.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) develops medicines for serious diseases. Its primary marketed products include Xywav, Xyrem oral solution, Epidiolex oral solution, Rylaze, Zepzelca, Defitelio, and Vyxeos liposome for injection. These medicines treat excess daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy patients seven years of age or older, tepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), and other ailments.
2. Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 78
Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy for the long term. TD Cowen lifted the price target on Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) to $48 from $38 on May 4, reaffirming a Hold rating on the shares. The firm updated its model on the stock after its fiscal Q1 financial results, stating that management believes there is potential guidance upside from conservative HIX risk adjustment assumptions.
Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) reported its fiscal Q1 2026 results on April 28, with first-quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share of $3.11 and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $3.37, approximately $0.50 better than its expectations. Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) also raised its 2026 GAAP diluted EPS guidance to greater than $2.37 and adjusted diluted EPS to greater than $3.40.
The company further reported that premium and service revenues in fiscal Q1 2026 rose 5% to $44.7 billion from $42.5 billion in the comparable period of 2025, with management attributing the growth to premium yield and membership growth in the PDP business, state-directed payments, and rate increases to address medical trends in the Medicaid business.
Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) is a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to government-sponsored healthcare programs. The company’s operations are divided into the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other.
1. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy for the long term. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) received a rating update from Evercore ISI on May 4, with the firm lifting the price target on the stock to $236 from $232 while maintaining an Outperform rating on the shares. The company also announced on May 5 the presentation of new data across its gastroenterology portfolio at the 2026 Digestive Disease Week Annual Meeting, May 2-5 in Chicago, where it will present 18 abstracts. These include real-world evidence and long-term findings for SKYRIZI® and RINVOQ® in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
In a separate development, AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) announced on April 27 the submission of an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval for SKYRIZI® for subcutaneous induction for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. Management stated that the application is supported by the recently shared positive data from the Phase 3 AFFIRM study evaluating the efficacy and safety of risankizumab SC as an induction treatment in adult patients with moderately to severely active CD. This includes both those with and without prior advanced therapy failure.
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is a research-based pharmaceutical company that develops and sells products to treat chronic diseases in oncology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, dermatology, virology, and various other serious health conditions.
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