We recently published a list of 8 Most Promising Medical Stocks According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) stands against other most promising medical stocks. 

Growth and Innovation in the Global Medical Devices Sector

The healthcare sector depends on medical technology advancements, particularly devices used in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Unlike pharmaceuticals, medical devices work through physical or mechanical means rather than chemical processes. Key products include pacemakers, imaging equipment, dialysis machines, and implants.

Like many other industries, the medical device industry was greatly affected by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) segment saw significant revenue growth in 2020 and 2021, mostly due to the increased demand for PCR and fast testing. Overall, even while funding for digital health had been rising gradually in the years preceding the pandemic, it saw a notable uptick in 2021, hitting around $45 billion, more than all of the funds amassed between 2010 and 2017.

The global market for medical devices, estimated to be worth $570 billion in 2022, is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2023 to 2032, reaching over $996.93 billion. By 2032, the U.S. market is expected to have grown to a value of around $246.51 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. Key drivers propelling the medical devices market’s expansion in the upcoming years are the rise in demand for cutting-edge treatments and continuous technical developments in medical devices to meet unmet demands in the healthcare industry.

The importance of the medical devices sector, which employed over 329,000 people and generated $25.8 billion in payroll in 2020, is highlighted by the U.S. Cluster Mapping Tool. The 2023 EY Medical Technology study highlights supply chain management and financing as two important topics for Medtech leaders worldwide. In 2022, R&D expenditure returned to historical norms, despite reaching a record $24.7 billion. A significant drop in mergers and acquisitions is also noted in the report which indicates a diminished emphasis on inorganic growth tactics.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies have revolutionized patient monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment in the healthcare industry. Applications of AI include predicting results using electronic health information and evaluating radiological images for early detection. One noteworthy instance was when NVIDIA Corporation and Medtronic announced in March 2023 that they would be integrating NVIDIA’s AI technology into Medtronic’s FDA-approved GI Genius, an intelligent endoscopic module that helps detect precancerous growths.

Also Read 10 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 10 Best Mid-Cap Healthcare Stocks to Buy Now.

Our Methodology 

For our methodology, we began by filtering medical stocks from healthcare equipment ETFs. Next, we identified those with the highest number of hedge fund holders as of Q2 2024, using data from the Insider Monkey database. The final selection was ranked based on the number of hedge fund holders to prioritize stocks with greater institutional interest.

“Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).”

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 82 

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) is a leading global medical device manufacturer offering products such as stents, catheters, and cardiac monitors in over 100 countries. The company specializes in technologies like pulsed-field ablation (FPA), which enables targeted treatment while preserving organ structure. The launch of its Farapulse FPA product in January contributed to a 17% revenue growth in the U.S. in Q2, and global regulatory approval for Farapulse could further enhance its performance. Boston Scientific’s shares have risen 44% year-to-date.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) was mentioned by Artisan Partners in their investor letter dated Q2 2024. The fund said as follows:

“Boston Scientific is a global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. The company develops cardiovascular and cardiac rhythm management products, including imaging catheters, imaging systems, and guidewires. It also makes devices used for electrophysiology, endoscopy, pain management (neuromodulation), urology, and pelvic health, including laser systems, hydrogel systems, and brain stimulation systems. Boston Scientific markets its products in about 130 countries; the U.S. generates about 60% of its revenue.

We believe Boston Scientific, as a leader in medical devices, is benefiting from the strong utilization trends coming out of COVID-19, positive demographic trends with aging patients, and new product innovation to gain market share. The company has executed well against the long-range plan issued last fall, which calls for organic sales growth in the range of 8%-10%, 150 basis points of operating margin expansion, and category leadership over the period 2024 through 2026. Additionally, we see a consistent track record of accelerating organic sales growth and a track record of accretive M&A.”

As of Q2, 2024, 82 hedge funds in the Insider Monkey database held shares in the stock, with Citadel Investment Group having the largest stake among these, holding 12,499,867 shares worth $962,614,757. Boston Scientific holds a strong buy rating, with 19 Wall Street analysts providing 12-month price targets over the last 3 months. The average price target is $90.94, with a high of $100.00 and a low of $78.00, indicating a potential 3.26% increase from the current price of $88.07.

Overall, BSX ranks 1st on our list of most promising medical stocks according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of BSX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BSX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.