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Mark Cuban&#39;s Cost Plus Drugs Gets Medication Elon Musk Asked About 6 Months Ago: &#39;Still Ready To Save Tesla, SpaceX And X a F**kton of Money&#39;

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4 Million People Lost Medicaid In 3 Months, Will Reach 15 Million Before The Election — How Is This Affecting Biden&#39;s Presidential Bid?

ETFs

Looking for broad exposure to the Healthcare - Healthcare - Providers segment of the equity market? You should consider the iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (ETF:IHF), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 05/01/2006.

Should You Invest In The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF)?

Invictus Hyperion Fund

Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35926664/mark-cuban-challenges-elon-musk-on-twitter-ad-efficacy-thats-the-real-world-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vocal critic of Elon Musk&#8216;s management</a> of the social-media platform X, responded to Musk&#8217;s inquiry about the anti-parasitic treatment, ivermectin.
What happened:&nbsp;A user on the X platform with the handle @MdBreathe questioned Cuban in June about why his Cost Plus Drugs company doesn&#8217;t offer ivermectin, highlighting the stark pricing difference between Africa and the U.S. &#8220;Why does your company not offer ivermectin? Ivermectin costs $0.02 per pill in Africa, 100x mark-up in America,&#8221; the user pointed out.
Cuban&#8217;s Cost Plus Drugs company, a public benefit corporation in Dallas, Texas, provides generic drugs at lower prices by eliminating middlemen and using a cost-plus pricing strategy.
Musk interjected, responding to the June post, &#8220;Good question.&#8221;&nbsp;
In his reply, Cuban explained that his company couldn&#8217;t secure a better price than other available sources but offered Hydroxychloroquine instead, a product his company sells.
Cuban also suggested Musk have his employees use Cost Plus Drugs, stating, &#8220;It will save them and @twitter a f&#x2A;&#x2A;kton of money.&#8221;
See Also:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-healthcare-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Best Healthcare Stocks Right Now</a>
Walks The Talk?&nbsp;About six months later, Cuban updated Musk, sharing a link to purchase Ivermectin on Cost Plus Drugs&#8217; website. He mentioned, &#8220;Wanted to let you know we got the med you were asking about.&#8221;
&#8220;And still available to save @Tesla, @SpaceX, and @X a f&#x2A;&#x2A;ton of money, just like we have for probably tens of thousands of @X users,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Just have someone reach out to me.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> , wanted to let you know we got the med you were asking about. And still available to save <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/X?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@X</a> a fuckton of money, just like we have for probably tens of thousands of <a href="https://twitter.com/X?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@X</a> users. Just have someone reach out to me. <a href="https://t.co/B6mbAqlzDY">https://t.co/B6mbAqlzDY</a> <a href="https://t.co/saBWB0Kded">https://t.co/saBWB0Kded</a> <a href="https://t.co/Eurmrpwc7j">pic.twitter.com/Eurmrpwc7j</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1735098208513073305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Ashley St. Clair&nbsp;from&nbsp;Babylon Bee&nbsp;commented on Cuban&#8217;s post, expressing appreciation and suggesting a lighthearted interview. Ivermectin&#8217;s pricing on the Cost Plug Drugs website showed $91.40 for 30 tablets, roughly $3.04 per pill. Comparatively, WebMDRx lists the average cost for 30 tablets of 3mg Stromectol (a branded version of ivermectin) at $188.44 or $6.28 per pill, with a discounted price of $106.85 using the WebMDRx coupon.
The public has raised concerns about drug companies overcharging, alleging that pharmaceutical companies aggressively lobby against legislation aimed at lowering prescription drug costs.
The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHF#NYSE">IHF</a>) ended Wednesday&#8217;s session up 1.32% at $265.01, according to<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag"> Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35988212/mark-cuban-to-exit-shark-tank-reflects-on-his-worst-deal-and-surprise-success-shared-with-benzinga">Mark Cuban To Exit Shark Tank: Reflects On His Worst Deal And Surprise Success Shared With Benzinga</a>
Photo: Courtesy of Gage Skidmore on Flickr

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs Gets Medication Elon Musk Asked About 6 Months Ago: 'Still Ready To Save Tesla, SpaceX And X a F**kton of Money'

Millions of Americans are being kicked off of Medicaid, in a move that could impact the success of the Democratic party in the upcoming presidential election.
In the last three months, almost 4 million Americans lost their Medicaid coverage as the program's continuous enrollment provisions came to an end with the official culmination of the COVID-19 national emergency.
Up until April 1, 2023, states were banned from disenrolling patients from the Medicaid program, as a measure taken by the federal government to maintain high levels of healthcare coverage at the peak of the pandemic. This provision came in exchange for enhanced federal funding, <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-the-unwinding-of-the-medicaid-continuous-enrollment-provision/#:~:text=This%20provision%20requires%20states%20to,preserve%20coverage%20during%20the%20pandemic.">according</a> to KFF.
The measure of continuous enrollment incentivized more people to join the program, leading to historically high levels of an insured population. Enrollment in Medicaid grew by 23.3 million to nearly 95 million throughout the duration of the pandemic, from February 2020 to the end of March 2023.
The number of people being removed from Medicaid is expected to continue growing. Approximately 15 million people are expected to lose access to the program after dropping the continuous enrollment provisions, according to an official report by the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation.
A separate analysis by KFF puts that number at between 8 and 24 million people in the 12-month period following the policy roll-back.
Disenrollment data is incomplete, as only 42 states and the District of Columbia are currently reporting on the subject. In the states that do report, an added 38% of people with a completed renewal were taken off the program.&nbsp;
Most of the people disenrolled (75%) had their coverage revoked because they did not complete their renewal forms, which is blamed on a lack of clear public messaging from the states, <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker/">reported</a> KFF.
Texas and Florida are the states with the highest numbers of people disenrolled, reaching 501,000 and 408,000, respectively. They're followed by California, Arkansas, Ohio and Arizona, all of which surpassed 200,000 disenrollments.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Disenrollments Could Impact The 2024 Election</h3>
Strong healthcare readings are one of the key elements in Joe Biden's argument for reelection. The president and the Democrat party take pride in the measures taken to expand access to affordable healthcare coverage for low-income residents.
"The rate of Americans without health insurance is at an all-time low," said Biden in a speech last month.
"Premiums for coverage under the Affordable Care Act are $800 less per person than before I took office. And that's Bidenomics," he said.
Losing Medicaid coverage has been linked in the past to reduced voter turnout, according to Jamila Michener, co-director of the Cornell Center for Health Equity.
The academic, who focuses on studying the impacts of the Medicaid program, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/09/bidens-health-care-wins-undone-medicaid-00110389">told</a> Politico that&nbsp;"in places where the unwinding has been associated with disenrollment and with the negative experiences with Medicaid, we are more likely to see that translated into negative electoral consequences."&nbsp;
Expanding healthcare access to low-income individuals has been a Democrat effort for the most part, which is why GOP politicians have been notoriously silent on the subject, according to a recent <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4142280-why-gop-hopefuls-arent-talking-about-health-care-costs/">report</a> by The Hill.
Part of the reasoning is that healthcare is not an issue that matters in the agenda of primary GOP voters, so Republican politicians have nothing to gain from discussing the issue at this point in the campaign.
For Democrats, whose nomination of Biden for the presidential election is more universally accepted than the GOP's fragmented front, losing wins in the healthcare front could mean a loss of potential voters.
While so far the most affected populations losing Medicaid are located in historically red states, such as Texas and Florida, the disenrollments are being pushed by bipartisan state administrations, which include California, New York and Washington state among the top 10 states rolling back on Medicaid members.
Market Impact:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), one of the country's largest insurers, is down 0.2% on Wednesday but up over 9% in the past month.</li>
<li>Competitor Elevance Health Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), previously known as Anthem, is flat on Wednesday at the time of writing but is adding over 7% in gains in the past month.</li>
<li>CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), which makes one-quarter of its revenues from healthcare subsidiary Aetna, is up 1.4% on Wednesday and more than 8% in the month.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHF#NYSE">IHF</a>), which provides coverage of the healthcare industry, is down 0.3% on Wednesday but up 3.5% monthly.</li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

4 Million People Lost Medicaid In 3 Months, Will Reach 15 Million Before The Election — How Is This Affecting Biden's Presidential Bid?

Looking for broad exposure to the Healthcare - Healthcare - Providers segment of the equity market? You should consider the iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (ETF:IHF), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 05/01/2006.
Retail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Investor-friendly, sector ETFs provide many options to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Healthcare - Healthcare - Providers is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 8, placing it in top 50%.
Index Details
The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $1.01 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Healthcare - Healthcare - Providers segment of the equity market. IHF seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select HealthCare Providers Index before fees and expenses.
The Dow Jones U.S. Select HealthCare Providers Index is free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index. It measures the performance of the health care providers sub-sector of the U.S. equity market. It includes health maintenance organizations, hospitals, clinics, dentists, opticians, nursing homes rehabilitation &amp; retirement centres.
Costs
Expense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.39%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.75%.
Sector Exposure And Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF&#39;s holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Healthcare sector--about 100% of the portfolio.
Looking at individual holdings, Unitedhealth Group Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) accounts for about 23.42% of total assets, followed by Elevance Health Inc (NYSE:&nbsp;ELV) and CVS Health Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cvs#NYSE">CVS</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 74.33% of total assets under management.
Performance And Risk
The ETF has lost about -0.92% and is down about -0.73% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 07/24/2023), respectively. IHF has traded between $241.82 and $286.75 during this last 52-week period.
The ETF has a beta of 0.81 and standard deviation of 18.65% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 69 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
IShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF sports a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. IHF, then, is not a great choice for investors seeking exposure to the Health Care ETFs segment of the market. Instead, there are better ETFs in the space to consider.

The World Health Organization said that it&#39;s&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.who.int/news/item/07-12-2021-who-recommends-against-the-use-of-convalescent-plasma-to-treat-covid-19" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">not recommending the use of convalescent plasma</a>&nbsp;as a treatment for COVID-19 for mild or severe cases. The treatment uses blood from those who have recovered from COVID-19 since they have antibodies from natural infection. Antibodies and plasma are separated from blood cells and introduced into the patient&#39;s body.
<ul>
<li>&quot;Despite its initial promise, current evidence shows that it does not improve survival nor reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, and it is costly and time-consuming to administer,&quot; WHO noted.</li>
<li>Related Link:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/21/08/22572142/does-convalescent-plasma-therapy-help-in-covid-19-recovery-nih-study-says-it-does-not" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Does Convalescent Plasma Therapy Help In COVID-19 Recovery? NIH Study Says &#39;It Does Not&#39;</a></li>
<li>The organization said that there was sufficient uncertainty in patients with severe and critical illnesses to warrant the continuation of randomized controlled trials.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The recommendation was based on findings from 16 trials involving 16,236 patients with non-severe, severe, and critical infections.&nbsp;</li>
<li>WHO also listed&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/350177/WHO-2019-nCoV-therapeutics-2021.4-eng.pdf" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">several logistical concerns</a>&nbsp;surrounding this line of treatment.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The process of identifying and testing potential donors, collecting, storing, and administering plasma therapy is not entirely practical and causes feasibility issues, according to the agency.</li>
<li>Also See:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/21/03/19977949/covid-19-convalescent-plasma-study-shows-no-benefit-us-nih-stops-trial" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Study Shows No Benefit, US NIH Stops Trial</a>.</li>
<li>Photo by AhmadArdity via Pixaby</li>
</ul>

Biotech

Education

iShares Trust S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index Fund

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund

Why WHO Did Not Recommend Convalescent Plasma Therapy For COVID-19

There are going to be three key themes for the coming year, 2021, which will make some ETFs very attractive &mdash;&nbsp;something investors should keep an eye on &mdash;&nbsp;as per&nbsp;Ned Davis Research&rsquo;s Senior Portfolio Strategist Pat Tschosik.
Cannabis sector under the Democratic President-elect Joe Biden,&nbsp;the impact of Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing and distribution, and the electric vehicles segment are expected to emerge as the key themes for 2021, Tschosik said, as <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/06/using-etfs-to-play-three-likely-big-themes-for-2021green-wave-covid-recovery-biden-agenda-ned-davis-breaks-down-how-to-play-these-themes-in-2021.html">reported</a> by CNBC.
Legalized Cannabis Under Joe Biden&rsquo;s Term: Tschosik believes that with the Democratic party at the helm of affairs, cannabis stocks may witness significant tailwinds in 2021. During the elections, four states, namely New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota, and Montana <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/20/11/18347489/2020-ballot-results-where-is-weed-legal">legalized</a> the possession and use of marijuana.
The Ned Davis Research&rsquo;s strategist opines that furthering cannabis legalization on a nationwide level will not only be seen as a progressive agenda of the party but also generate a new model for tax collections on a state level.
The analyst recommends buying Global X Cannabis ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/potx#NASDAQ">POTX</a>), which has gained 44.76%&nbsp;since the election day, and&nbsp;iShares US Healthcare Providers ETF&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) &mdash; up&nbsp;10% in the same period, to gain exposure to the sector.
Since Nov. 3,&nbsp;Canopy Growth Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cgc#NASDAQ">CGC</a>) stock is up 39.7%, Aurora Cannabis Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acb#NYSE">ACB</a>) by 122%, and Tilray Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tlry#NASDAQ">TLRY</a>) by 30%.
Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine: The news of multiple successful vaccine candidates is spurring hawkish market sentiments. These sentiments are not just restricted to healthcare companies, but also other businesses like retail stores, amusement parks, cinema halls, travel, and tourism, that suffered during the lockdown.
Stocks of travel and leisure companies are set for a rebound next year and Ned Davis Research strategist believes that&nbsp;Invesco Dynamic Leisure &amp; Entertainment ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pej#NYSE">PEJ</a>) and&nbsp;US Global Jets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jets#NYSE">JETS</a>) provide key exposure to the sector. Both the ETF&#39;s have dropped this year, with PEJ by 15% and JETS by 26%.&nbsp;
Movie theatre chain AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amc#NYSE">AMC</a>) stock is up 50% since Nov. 3 and Walt Disney Company&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>) by 24%. Airliner United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ual#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) has risen 44% since the election day. Vacation rental booking company Airbnb Inc&nbsp;is also reportedly targeting a valuation of up to $42 billion in its upscaled IPO amid high demand.
Electric Vehicles,&nbsp;Renewable Energy Sources: Tschosik believes that the next year could be marked by a systematic growth in the electric vehicles and clean energy segment, CNBC reports. &ldquo;Clean energy momentum could continue for decades given the backing from both governments and private industry,&rdquo; as per the analyst.
The senior strategist lists two promising ETFs - the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qcln#NASDAQ">QCLN</a>) and&nbsp;Global X Autonomous &amp; Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/driv#NASDAQ">DRIV</a>) as buys for exposure to the sector. On a year-to-date basis, QCLN has gained close to 142%&nbsp;and DRIV by approximately 51%.
EV market leader Tesla Inc&rsquo;s (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock has jumped close to 600% since the beginning of the year. The stock rallied stronger in the second half of August and then in the second half of November.
Many Chinese EV companies raised funds from IPO listings in the U.S this year. Xpeng Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xpev#NYSE">XPEV</a>), an EV company backed by Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holdings (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/baba#NYSE">BABA</a>), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/20/08/17282493/alibaba-backed-ev-maker-xpeng-shoots-up-41-on-nyse-debut-after-1-5b-ipo">generated</a> $1.5 billion from the IPO in late August. Li Auto Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/li#NASDAQ">LI</a>) secured $1.1 billion from the IPO offering in July.

Analyst Color

Cannabis

Long Ideas

Travel

Restaurants

Analyst Ratings

Tech

Trading Ideas

BABA

DRIV

JETS

PowerShares ETF Leisure & Entertainment Port

POTX

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund

QCLN

TLRY

TSLA

XPEV

Analyst Recommends These ETFs To Play 3 Key Themes For 2021 — EVs, Cannabis, And COVID-19 Recovery

The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/20/09/17572429/ruth-bader-ginsburg-a-champion-for-women-as-supreme-court-justice-dies-at-87">passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a> is creating a stir for some health care stocks, prompting the investment community to ponder the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
The long and the short of it is, as evidenced by Monday&#39;s drubbings for some of these names, markets view Medicaid insurance providers and hospital operators as vulnerable to a possible repeal of Obamacare. The concern is relevant over the near-term because, as if 2020 couldn&#39;t get any wackier, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an Obamacare single pay mandate case a week after Election Day.
&ldquo;Prior to Ginsburg&#39;s death, the court looked likely to uphold the ACA at least along the previous voting lines (5-4), but without her vote, the path to upholding the law just got more complicated, creating the potential for the millions of Americans who gained access to insurance through the ACA to lose that coverage,&rdquo; writes <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1002091/supreme-court-shakeup-adds-complexity-for-health-care">Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback</a>.
Here are some exchange-traded funds to consider if Obamacare can withstand its latest challenge.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/20/09/17585368/whats-next-for-the-supreme-court-following-justice-ginsburgs-death">What&#39;s Next For The Supreme Court Following Justice Ginsburg&#39;s Death?</a>
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF)
The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (CBOE:IHF) has had its hands full on the political front for over a year.
First, it was a crop of contenders for the Democratic nomination pushing for Medicare for All, weighing on IHF components such as UnitedHealth (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>).
Now, it&#39;s the specter of the Supreme Court dealing a blow to Obamacare, which would punish IHF holdings such as Centene Health (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnc#NYSE">CNC</a>).
&ldquo;President Trump and Senate leadership appear intent on voting on a new justice before the end of the year. If that is the case, there is a chance that a 5-4 vote upholding the ACA could turn to a 5-4 vote against the law, assuming the new justice votes in line with most of the other conservative jurists,&rdquo; according to Morningstar.
Conversely, the Supreme Court has turned back stronger challenges to the ACA in the past, perhaps indicating that if that trend repeats, IHF could be poised to rally if a similar ruling is made.
SPDR S&amp;P Health Care Services ETF (XHS)
The SPDR S&amp;P Health Care Services ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xhs#NYSE">XHS</a>) has its own vulnerabilities to a potential repeal of Obamacare as highlighted by the fund&#39;s 4% decline over the past week. The fund&#39;s <a href="https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/funds/spdr-sp-health-care-services-etf-xhs">50 holdings include</a> Health Care Distributors, Health Care Facilities, Health Care Services, and Managed Health Care providers, the latter two of which could be derailed if the U.S. health care system is dramatically altered by a new look Supreme Court.
As is the case with IHF, XHS is experiencing near-term pain on speculation that a more conservative Supreme Court, assuming Trump can get his nominee onto the bench, will make a political call, not a legal call, when hearing the upcoming ACA case. That remains to be seen.
iShares Evolved U.S. Healthcare Staples ETF (IEHS)
The good news with the iShares Evolved U.S. Healthcare Staples ETF (CBOE: IEHS) is twofold. First, it&#39;s a diversified health care ETF, so it&#39;s not excessively allocated to insurance and managed care providers. Second, it&#39;s actively managed, so it could potentially more responsive to changes in the health care legal and political landscapes than the other ETFs highlighted here. Those benefits are reflected in IEHS&#39;s modest year-to-date gain while IHF is in the red.

Sector ETFs

3 Health Care ETFs For A New Look Supreme Court

Second-quarter earnings seasons rolls along this week and here&#39;s to hoping there are some pleasant surprises, which, believe it or not, there have been plenty of. Of course, the second-quarter bar is set remarkably low because of the coronavirus pandemic, but upside surprises are rarely a bad thing.
Currently, 84% of S&amp;P 500 members reporting results are beating estimates, above the five-year average.
&ldquo;If 84% is the final percentage for the quarter, it will mark the highest percentage of S&amp;P 500 companies reporting a positive EPS surprise since FactSet began tracking this metric in 2008,&rdquo; notes <a href="https://insight.factset.com/sp-500-earnings-season-update-july-31-2020">John Butters of FactSet Research.</a>
With that in mind, here are some exchange-traded funds to consider for this week&#39;s earnings onslaught.
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC)
The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xlc#NYSE">XLC</a>) gained 2.25% last week, dealing with reports from Facebook (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fb#NASDAQ">FB</a>) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) with aplomb.
This week&#39;s marquee report among XLC components is Dow component Walt Disney Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>) on <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/disney-t-mobile-cvs-activision-blizzard-and-other-stocks-for-investors-to-watch-this-week-51596394800?mod=hp_LEAD_3">Tuesday after the bell</a>. However, several video game makers and media companies report this week, too, sending a decent percentage of XLC&#39;s roster into the earnings confessional.
To this point in earnings season, 75% of communication services companies reporting are beating estimates. Only energy and real estate have lower percentages.
Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports &amp; Digital Entertainment ETF (NERD)
Speaking of video games, the Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports &amp; Digital Entertainment ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nerd#NYSE">NERD</a>) jumped 4.78% last week with some help from a bullish earnings report from Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ea#NASDAQ">EA</a>). That extends NERD&#39;s 2020 gain to a stellar 46%.
More potential earnings catalysts loom for NERD this week with Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ttwo#NASDAQ">TTWO</a>) and Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/atvi#NASDAQ">ATVI</a>) reporting on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Those stocks combine for <a href="https://www.roundhillinvestments.com/etf/nerd/">10% of NERD&#39;s roster</a>.
EA&#39;s report confirms more games are being sold amid the pandemic. NERD could repeat last week&#39;s bullishness if Take-Two and Activision make similar comments.
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF)
The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) is up just 2% this year despite health insurers keeping costs down as patients eschew elective procedures due to the pandemic.
CVS Health (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cvs#NYSE">CVS</a>), IHF&#39;s second-largest holding at a weight of 12.5%, reports this week.
&ldquo;CVS reported above our expectations in the first quarter after an increase in store activity as a result of the shelter-in-place orders,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/articles/995037/the-week-ahead-walt-disney-cvs-and-berkshire-hathaway-to-report-earnings">according to Morningstar.</a> &ldquo;As a top-tier pharmacy and health insurer with pharmacy benefit manager franchises, the narrow-moat company is a leader in affordable healthcare. Despite concerns and impact from the coronavirus, we believe CVS&rsquo; 2020 will not be severely disrupted by the pandemic.&rdquo;

Earnings

ATVI

GOOG

NERD

TTWO

3 ETFs For This Week's Earnings Reports

The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) has shaken out its politically-induced doldrums experienced earlier this year, rallying 30.44% off its 52-week low to cobble together a year-to-date gain of almost 18%.
Some analysts believe managed care and health insurance providers, including some of the 49 names dwelling in IHF, will see steadiness in the new year.
&ldquo;Full year 2019 operating performance within the U.S. health insurance sector is expected to extend the trend of solid results established in recent years, and there are strong indications that this trend will be extended further in 2020,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.fitchratings.com/site/pr/10104755">Fitch Ratings said in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;As a result, Fitch Ratings maintains a Stable sector outlook and Rating Outlook for the health insurance sector in 2020.&rdquo;
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Dow component UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) is IHF&#39;s largest holding, commanding nearly 24% of the ETF&#39;s weight. To a degree, so goes UnitedHealth, so goes IHF, but there are other important holdings in the fund, including CVS Health (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cvs#NYSE">CVS</a>), Cigna (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ci#NYSE">CI</a>) and Centene (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnc#NYSE">CNC</a>).
&ldquo;As CVS Health Corporation and Cigna Corporation continue the process of integrating Aetna Inc. and Express Scripts Inc., respectively, and Centene Corporation is expected to complete its acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. in first half 2020, Fitch believes that the potential for material consolidation activity will be significantly reduced in 2020,&rdquo; Fitch said. &ldquo;Fitch expects consolidation activity in 2020 to focus more on modest buildout of care delivery opportunities in various regions or care management and technology initiatives.&rdquo;
CVS, Centene and Cigna combine for almost a quarter of IHF&#39;s roster.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Integral to IHF&#39;s fortunes in 2020 is political risk and if that can remain muted, meaning presidential candidates backing off of Medicare For All, the very issue that plagued the ETF earlier this year. Notably, appetite for Medicare For All may not be as robust as some candidates expect.
&ldquo;Healthcare will certainly continue to be one of the most prevalent discussion topics among candidates for the U.S. presidency in 2020, but Fitch does not anticipate significant change in the structure of the U.S. healthcare system over the next couple of years,&rdquo; the ratings agency said.
&ldquo;While the health insurance sector has faced the risk of a replacement of the current private health insurance system with a single-payer system for decades, and this risk has been incorporated into Fitch&#39;s ratings, Fitch believes that public resistance to transformational change in the way healthcare is delivered and financed is slowly eroding as healthcare costs account for an increasing share of consumer expenditures.&rdquo;
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This ETF Has A Clean Bill Of Health For Now

On <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/12/02/final-trades-wendys-roku-tanger-alibaba-and-more.html">CNBC&#39;s &quot;Fast Money Halftime Report,&quot;</a> Joe Terranova recommended Wendys Co (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wen#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) as a buy.
Jim Lebentahl wants to buy Roku Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/roku#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>). He said it looks like it has already turned.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/19/12/14911286/roku-falls-on-morgan-stanley-downgrade-analyst-thinks-revenue-growth-will-slow-in-2">Roku Falls On Morgan Stanley Downgrade, Analyst Thinks Revenue Growth Will Slow In 2020</a>
Jenny Harrington is a buyer of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/skt#NYSE">SKT</a>).
Rob Sechan thinks iShares Dow Jones US Health Care (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) is a buy.
Stephen Weiss said he bought Roku during the break. His final trade is Alibaba Group Holding Ltd&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/baba#NYSE">BABA</a>).

Media

ROKU

Alibaba, Wendy's And More 'Fast Money Halftime Report' Picks From Dec. 2

The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) has spent plenty of time in the spotlight this year and for all the wrong, though easy to explain reasons.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
Somehow, IHF is clinging to a modest year-to-date gain, but that 1.43% uptick is less than half the S&amp;P 500 Health Care Index&#39;s 2019 showing and that&#39;s saying something because health care is the worst-performing sector in the S&amp;P 500 this year.
As has <a href="iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF">been widely noted</a>, IHF has hindered by speculation that the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, whomever that will be, will push for &quot;Medicare For All,&quot; a move that would decimate IHF member companies, including Dow component, UnitedHealth (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>).
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
But&nbsp;there&#39;s more when it comes to obstacles facing IHF and those obstacles aren&#39;t related to the Medicare For All debate.
&ldquo;A July hospital survey from JPMorgan last week has heightened <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/terminal/PWNDA4SYF01T">concerns</a> about insurers&rsquo; spending on patients&rsquo; medical claims in the third quarter. Anthem Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Centene Corp. were among the companies that <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-24/health-insurers-sink-as-rising-spending-gauge-alarms-investors">flagged</a> rising costs in the past quarter,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-26/health-insurers-can-t-catch-a-break-as-earnings-come-into-focus?srnd=premium">according to Bloomberg</a>.
The market says those concerns are credible because IHF, an ETF that should be seen as defensive and one home to components with little to no export exposure, is trading lower than the S&amp;P 500 this month. Said another way, the trade war with China should be sending investors to funds like IHF, but the ETF is betraying its defensive reputation.
Moreover, UnitedHealth, Anthem (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/antm#NASDAQ">ANTM</a>) and Centene (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnc#NYSE">CNC</a>) combine for about 37% of IHF&#39;s weight, so if those stocks are falling in unison, IHF likely isn&#39;t moving higher.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
&ldquo;Fundamental concerns have weighed on the sector for the past month,&rdquo; reports Bloomberg. &ldquo;The S&amp;P 500 Managed Care Index has declined 5.2% this year, after being up about 8% just last month. The benchmark plunged nearly 3% after JPMorgan&rsquo;s survey came out last week.&rdquo;
There&#39;s no rest for the weary. IHF will likely face political headwinds again in a few weeks when the next round of Democratic debates are aired.
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Short Ideas

ANTM

It's Still All About Politics For This ETF

Plenty of health care exchange traded funds can be dubbed disappointing this year. The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) is one fund that belongs in that group.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
While IHF&#39;s year-to-date gain of 5.88% is tepid at best, the fund&#39;s lethargy is not its fault. Rather, investors in IHF and the stocks held by the ETF are finding themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. The time is a presidential election cycle that kicked into high gear early in 2019, featuring momentum for &quot;Medicare for All.&quot;
Regardless of one&#39;s feelings about Medicare for All and the candidates endorsing that idea, markets are saying <a href="https://investorplace.com/2019/06/best-etfs-for-2019-the-ishares-u-s-healthcare-providers-etf-can-recover/">it&#39;s not a good idea</a>.
IHF confirms as much as does UnitedHealth&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) status as one of the worst-performing members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average this year. That stock accounts for almost 22% of IHF&#39;s weight.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
IHF has rallied nicely off its May lows, but until the field of contenders for the 2020 presidential election is pared further and/or it becomes clear those candidates will not push for Medicare for All, investors may need some convincing before embracing IHF.
&ldquo;Despite leading Democratic candidate Joe Biden leaning toward more moderate approaches, heated debate <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-28/harris-stakes-claim-as-top-2020-contender-in-clash-with-biden">exchanges</a> pushed presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren higher on investors&rsquo; radars,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-01/health-insurers-face-tough-second-half-as-policy-risks-loom?srnd=premium">according to Bloomberg</a>. &ldquo;Both support versions of a national health-insurance program.&rdquo;
Some analysts that follow stocks such as UNH and other IHF components have noted that if Biden falls behind in the polls to a rival that favors Medicare for All, healthcare providers stocks are likely to suffers as a result.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Note that IHF traded higher through most of July as second-quarter earnings from its components streamed in, but the fund tumbled late last month. Sure, some of that could be attributable to the flareup of trade hostilities with China, but none of IHF&#39;s holdings have anything resembling notable China exposure.
Rather, the fund&#39;s recent dip could be pinned on the second round of Democratic debates, underscoring the point that, for investors, politics and IHF typically don&#39;t mix.
&ldquo;Debates are scheduled to go on until late December, after which voters will start casting their votes during the first primaries and caucuses in February,&rdquo; reports Bloomberg.
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It Could Be A While Before This ETF Really Bounces Back

With the government shutdown now in its fourth week&nbsp;and 800,000 federal workers on furlough, the risk of recession has increased significantly. The shutdown occurred due to lack of progress in passing a spending bill, wherein Trump demanded funding for $5.7&nbsp;billion for a border wall that is being opposed by the Democrats.
With the average pay loss being $5,000 for 800,000 federal employees, the shutdown has begun to harm the economy through&nbsp;lower consumer spending and investment. Additionally, tax refunds and mortgage applications have been delayed, hampering the housing sector. Public companies are struggling to get approval to raise capital, the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program went unfunded, and the Food and Drug Administration delayed approval of drugs and medical devices.
The Trump administration&#39;s revised estimates have&nbsp;doubled the cost of the government shutdown. It now projects the closure will subtract 0.1 percentage point from growth every week compared with the previous projection of 0.1 percentage point reduction every two weeks. Jamie Dimon, the CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase believes that the partial shutdown could wipe out growth from the world&#39;s biggest economy if it continues through the first quarter of the year.
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kKQvfzDnofY?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
Apart from the shutdown, U.S.-China trade tensions and global growth worries added to fears of recession. Additionally, growth in the world&#39;s biggest economy has started to slow down as gauges of manufacturing and consumer sentiment have fallen in the recent weeks.
Deutsche Bank warned&nbsp;that the combination of the U.S.-China trade war and government shutdown may result in recession as soon as this year. According to a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ceos-say-recession-is-top-worry-for-2019-11547672460">new survey</a> of chief executives from the Conference Board, the possibility of a global recession ranks as the top concern on the minds of corporate leaders as they head into 2019. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg put the risk of a U.S. recession at the highest in more than six years. They see a 25 percent&nbsp;chance of a slump in the next 12 months, up from 20 percent&nbsp;in the December survey.
In such a backdrop, investors should stash their cash in some conventionally secure and recession proof corners of the broad market. Below, we have highlighted a few ETFs from these areas:
SPDR Gold Trust ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gld#NYSE">GLD</a>)
In difficult market environments, gold is considered a great store of value and hedge against market turmoil. With AUM of $33.2 billion, the ultra-popular GLD tracks the price of gold bullion measured in U.S. dollars, and kept in London under the custody of HSBC Bank USA. It charges 40 bps in fees per year from investors and trades in heavy volume of nearly 8 million shares a day. The fund has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook.
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tlt#NASDAQ">TLT</a>)
Though the fund was out of investors&#39; favor due to rising yields last year and has an unfavorable Zacks ETF Rank #5 (Strong Sell) with a High risk outlook, the recession risk has brought back some lure. This is because the products tracking the long end of the yield curve often provide a safe haven. TLT provides exposure to long-term Treasury bonds by tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. It is one of the most popular and liquid ETFs in the bond space with AUM of $9.3 billion and average daily volume of 8.9 million shares. Expense ratio comes in at 0.15 percent.
Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xlu#NYSE">XLU</a>)
Being the low-beta sector, utility is relatively protected from large swings (ups and downs) in the stock market and is thus considered a defensive investment or safe haven amid economic or political turmoil. While there are several options in the space, the ultra-popular XLU seems a good bet. With AUM of $8.4 billion, it provides exposure to a small basket of 29 securities by tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index. The product charges 13 bps in annual fees and sees heavy volume of around 19 million shares on average. XLU has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>)
Healthcare generally outperforms during periods of low growth and high uncertainty. The demand for healthcare services remains intact even in the deteriorating economic fundamentals. IHF follows the Dow Jones U.S. Select Healthcare Providers Index with exposure to companies that provide health insurance, diagnostics and specialized treatment. In total, the fund holds 45 securities in its basket and has amassed $863.6 million in its asset base. Volume is good at about 116,000 shares per day on average. The product charges 43 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a Medium risk outlook.
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xlp#NYSE">XLP</a>)
The consumer staples sector is also viewed as defensive as it includes a variety of items like food &amp; beverages, non-durable household goods, hypermarkets and consumer supercenters that are essential for daily needs. These products see steady demand even during an economic downturn due to their low level of correlation with economic cycles. This is the most-popular consumer staples ETF with AUM of $9.6 billion and follows the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index. It holds about 33 securities in its basket and charges 13 bps in fees per year from investors. The fund trades in heavy volume of nearly 18.2 million shares a day and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vig#NYSE">VIG</a>)
Dividend paying securities are the major source of consistent income for investors to create wealth when returns from the equity market are at risk. Dividend-focused products offer safety in the form of payouts while at the same time providing stability as mature companies are less volatile to large swings in stock prices. VIG is the largest and most popular ETF in the dividend space with AUM of $30 billion and average&nbsp;daily volume of about 1.1 million shares.&nbsp;It holds 182 securities in the basket and charges 8 bps in annual fees. The product has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with a Medium risk outlook.
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iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund

Prolonged Shutdown Raises Recession Risk: ETFs To Consider

House Republicans have revealed their long-anticipated Affordable Care Act repeal and replace bill &mdash; the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/17/02/9088659/5-things-republicans-want-to-change-about-obamacare-but-might-not-be-">American Health Care Act.</a>
The bill repeals numerous ACA related taxes and penalties (mostly starting in 2018), defunds Medicaid expansion after 2019 and offers tax credits ($2,000&ndash;4,000 based on age and income) for the individual market.
Further, the tax credits will only be made available in full for those earning under $75,000 ($150,000 joint filers).

<h3>The Good, The Bad</h3>

&ldquo;The bill hits the Medicaid market hard. It would end the Medicaid expansion in 2020 and also sets the new Medicaid per capita allotment growth rate at CPI Medical,&rdquo; Credit Suisse analyst Scott Fidel wrote in a note.
On the other hand, Fidel noted that MA plans would particularly benefit from the repeal of the health insurance industry fee and there are several proposals in the House bill that could support a more balanced individual market risk pool.

<h3>Tough Political Battle On The Cards</h3>

However, the House bill may face a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/03/9134634/the-2-sides-of-the-affordable-care-act-debate-explained">tough political battle</a> even with President Trump&#39;s support as four Republican senators expressed concern around House proposals.
Andrew Parmentier of Height Securities expects the dissent to delay the passage of the new healthcare act as the debate itself is expected to extend beyond May.
&ldquo;The continued divide within the Republican party indicates to us that the aggressive timeline set out by Republican leadership &mdash; who wish to see health care finalized in the House by the end of March, and in the Senate by mid-April &mdash; is highly unlikely. Instead, we expect the debate will bleed into May and possibly beyond,&rdquo; Parmentier wrote in a note.
Parmentier also noted that the proposed bill is a trimmed down version of Obamacare and &ldquo;there is no overriding political philosophy or economic-driven blueprint to the Republicans&rsquo; replace part of the equation.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Add expanded health savings accounts and a new refundable tax credit to the mix and you have something other than Obamacare [...] it just doesn&rsquo;t feel like a repeal,&rdquo; Parmentier highlighted.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/02/9094886/affordable-care-act-replacement-bill-leaked">Affordable Care Act Replacement Bill Leaked</a>
Related Link:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/01/8891995/companies-that-have-the-most-to-lose-if-obamacare-is-repealed"> Companies That Have The Most To Lose If Obamacare Is Repealed</a>

Legal

Econ #s

What Wall Street Thinks Of The New Healthcare Reform Bill

For office workers everywhere, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-undo-the-harm-of-sitting-2016-6">the news</a> that regular exercise isn&rsquo;t enough to keep the harmful effects of sitting all day could come as a jolt. When added to time spent sitting at home, or in the car commuting, many people sit for longer than nine hours a day, according to the Business Insider coverage.
<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/education/16/06/8101645/how-important-is-your-health-in-retirement">How Important Is Your Health In Retirement?</a></bzrelatedlink>
The reasons why sitting for long periods is bad for you are not entirely understood, but the good news is how easy it is to combat its effects. Doctors say getting up and spending a few minutes up and moving every hour can do the trick.
Even just nine calories burned per hour adds up to 80 calories per eight-hour workday. Multiply that by the standard 40-hour work week and that&rsquo;s 400 calories a week.

Studies Show Regular Exercise Cannot Counteract Harm Of Sitting All Day At Work

Radio frequencies frequently emitted by cellphones can cause cancer, according to partial findings of a government study on rats, reported the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/cellphone-cancer-link-found-in-government-study-1464324146">Wall Street Journal</a>.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has carried out extensive toxicology and carcinogenesis <a href="http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/05/26/055699.full.pdf">studies of radiofrequency radiation (RFR)</a> in rats over multiple years. The studies involved observing the effects of frequencies and modulations found in the U.S. telecommunications industry on the rodents, paying particular attention to the potential of cancer-cell developments.
<h3>The Study</h3>
The peer-reviewed study found "the occurrences of two tumor types in male Harlan Sprague Dawley rats exposed to RFR (radiofrequency radiation), malignant gliomas in the brain and schwannomas of the heart," according to <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/possible-cellphone-link-cancer-rat-study-launches-new-debate-n581621">the research team</a>.
<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/16/05/8040684/astrazeneca-remains-committed-to-development-of-zs-9-despite-letter-from-fda">AstraZeneca Remains Committed To Development of ZS-9 Despite Letter From FDA</a></bzrelatedlink>
"Given the widespread global usage of mobile communications among users of all ages, even a very small increase in the incidence of disease resulting from exposure to [radio-frequency radiation] could have broad implications for public health," the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/cellphone-cancer-link-found-in-government-study-1464324146">Wall Street Journal</a> quoted a report of partial findings from the study.
Under these studies, rats and mice were exposed to radio-frequency "with two signal modulations [Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)] at two frequencies (900 MHz for rats and 1900 MHz for mice)," the <a href="http://biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2016/05/26/055699.full.pdf">NTP</a> wrote.
The study also found that "the tumors in the brain and heart observed at low incidence in male rats exposed to GSM and CDMA-modulated cell phone RFR in this study are of a type similar to tumors observed in some epidemiology studies of cell phone use."
"All RF exposures were conducted over a period of approximately 18 hours using a continuous cycle of 10 minutes on (exposed) and 10 minutes off (not exposed), for a total daily exposure time of approximately 9 hours a day, 7 days/week," according to the study.
<h3>What Does It All Mean?</h3>
"Where people were saying there's no risk, I think this ends that kind of statement," the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/cellphone-cancer-link-found-in-government-study-1464324146">Wall Street Journal</a> report said, quoting Ron Melnick, who ran the NTP project until his retirement in 2009.
The Journal said, "It's not clear how the results may impact the government's cellphone safety recommendations."
"Scientific evidence always informs FCC rules on this matter," an FCC spokesman told the Journal. "We will continue to follow all recommendations from federal health and safety experts including whether the FCC should modify its current policies and RF exposure limits."

Wall Street Journal

BIIB

First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Medical Devices Index Fund

Government Study: Cellphone Radiation Linked To Cancer

Exchange-traded healthcare funds were little changed Friday on a report that Humana Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/hum#NYSE">HUM</a>) hired advisors to <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/humana-considers-sale-of-company-1432919621">consider a sale.</a>

The Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Index closed down 1.4 percent Friday.

Exchange-traded healthcare funds aim to mirror sector performance by holding a wide a mix of stocks including pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, medical device makers and insurers.
<h3>Humana</h3>
Humana, which specializes in <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/medicare">Medicare</a> patients, tapped Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to evaluate potential offers from CIGNA Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ci#NYSE">CI</a>) and Aetna Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/aet#NYSE">AET</a>), according to The Wall Street Journal.
<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/15/05/5554473/healthcare-yen-and-oil-etfs-to-watch-this-week">Healthcare, Yen And Oil ETFs To Watch This Week</a></bzrelatedlink>
<h3>IShares' Healthcare ETFs</h3>
The exchange-traded fund iShares Dow Jones US Health Care(ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) picked up about 1.5 percent Friday afternoon, trading at $138.66.

Among the fund's holdings of 51 stocks across the spectrum of the health care industry are Anthem Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/antm#NYSE">ANTM</a>), Cigna and Aetna.
The iShares Dow Jones US Healthcare (ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyh#NYSE">IYH</a>) traded recently at 159.38, off $0.11.
<h3>Guggenheim's Healthcare ETF</h3>
Guggenheim S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Healthcare ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ryh#NYSE">RYH</a>) was nearly unchanged at $159.95. 
The fund has about 55 health care stocks including Aetna, Cigna and Humana.
<h3>Vanguard's Mutual Fund</h3>
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (MUTF: VGHCX) was up nearly 1 percent at $235.29 a share. The fund's top ten investments include a range of pharmaceutical companies and the health and well-being company UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>).
<h3>Fidelity's ETF</h3>
The Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fhlc#NYSE">FHLC</a>) traded recently at $36.38, down $0.06. 
Image Credit: <a href="http://pixabay.com/en/heartbeat-pulse-healthcare-medicine-163709/">Public Domain</a>

Specialty ETFs

FHLC

Rydex ETF Trust Rydex S&P Equal Weight Health ETF

Vanguard Specialized Portfolios Health Care Fund

VGHCX

Healthcare ETFs Unmoved By Possible Humana Inc. Merger

President Barack Obama presented his penultimate State of the Union address Tuesday night and it touched on a number of topics that could affect the stock market and may have perked the ears of investors.

	The speech hit on important topics such as <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/cybersecurity">cybersecurity</a> and the progress of the president&rsquo;s extensive healthcare reform. The two specific topics have ETFs that track the sectors mentioned and both are on the move Wednesday.

	<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/15/01/5158928/state-of-the-union-to-spotlight-cybersecurity">State Of The Union To Spotlight Cybersecurity</a></bzrelatedlink>
<h3>
	Cybersecurity</h3>

	The PureFunds ISE Cyber Security ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/hack#NYSE">HACK</a>) consists of 30 companies that focus on infrastructure, software and hardware, as well as firms that offer consulting and monitoring of cyber risks.

	The top individual holdings include:
<ul>
<li>
		AHNLab making up 5 percent of the ETF</li>
<li>
		Infoblox Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/blox#NASDAQ">BLOX</a>) with a 4.7 percent allocation</li>
<li>
		FireEye Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/feye#NASDAQ">FEYE</a>) coming in at 4.7 percent as well</li>
<li>
		KEYW Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/keyw#NASDAQ">KEYW</a>) at 4.6 percent</li>
</ul>

	The ETF is heavily distributed across five countries with the United States at 72 percent, Israel at 12 percent, the Netherlands at 5 percent and South Korea at 5 percent. Since its inception on November 11, 2014, HACK is up 4.5 percent and recently the volume has been increasing as investors realize the longer-term threats in the sector. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.75 percent.
<h3>
	Healthcare</h3>

	The iShares Dow Jones US Health Care(ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>) is made up of 51 U.S.-based companies that provide health insurance, diagnostics and specialized treatment. The holdings are broken down into five sectors, with the vast majority (95 percent) invested in health care providers and services.

	The top individual holdings include:
<ul>
<li>
		United Health Group Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) at 14.5 percent</li>
<li>
		Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/esrx#NASDAQ">ESRX</a>) making up 10.1 percent</li>
<li>
		Anthem Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/antm#NYSE">ANTM</a>) coming in at 7.1 percent</li>
</ul>

	The <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/healthcare">healthcare</a> ETF is up 28 percent over the last 12 months and up 16 percent over the last six months. IHF has an expense ratio of 0.43 percent.

New ETFs

HACK

2 ETFs On The Move After The State Of The Union Address

ETF Outlook for Tuesday, March 25, 2014:

	iShares Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Providers Index ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>)

	One side of the aisle deems the subsidies that are handed out with Obamacare in 36 states that have not set up their own exchanges illegal; the Supreme Court will hear the argument Tuesday.

	So far the courts have sided with the legality of the subsidies, but if the Supreme Court changes the ruling it could slow the expansion of health insurance in the states. A sector that will be watching the hearings will be IHF, which is a basket of health care providers with a heavy concentration on the health insurance companies.

	First Trust Natural Gas ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ung#NYSE">UNG</a>)

	The House and Senate energy committees are holding hearings today to decide if they should ease the restrictions on the exportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG). A move would allow more countries to buy LNG from the U.S. through a simpler process. The situation in the Ukraine and Russia may put pressure on the politicians to ease the restrictions so Europe can begin to lower their reliance on Russia for natural gas.

	See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/14/03/4415019/geopolitical-tension-keeps-brent-above-106">Geopolitical Tension Keeps Brent Above $106</a>

	The side against the easing of restrictions believes it will increase the prices for natural gas in the U.S., which would lead to a bump in the price of UNG. The commodity has already had a big rally during the extremely cold winter season.

	Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gdx#NYSE">GDX</a>)

	A big loss of 4.7 percent yesterday has the ETF at a new one-month low. The stocks are moving in concert with the price of gold, which has also dipped to the lowest level in a month.

	The ETF is now down 12 percent in less than two weeks and the short-term uptrend it had been building since December has been destroyed. The next level of support for GDX is the $23 area and it closed out yesterday at $24.33. A bounce either today or at some point this week is likely, however the trend is now clearly down and it appears the 2014 gold rally has ended.

Commodities

Pre-Market Outlook

Market Vectors ETF Trust Market Vectors Gold Miners

ETF Outlook For Tuesday, March 25, 2014 (IHF, GDX, UNG)

ETF Outlook for Tuesday, February 11, 2014

	First Trust ISE Cloud Computing Index ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/skyy#NYSE">SKYY</a>)

	Cloud computing stock Rackspace (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/rax#NYSE">RAX</a>) announced its CEO is quitting and that their profit fell by 30 percent. As imagined, the news has sent the stock lower by double-digit percentages this morning as investors exit the shares.

	The stock is not was prominent of a name in the niche cloud computing space as it was in the past, however it will have a ripple affect through the sector and SKYY could see some early selling pressure.

	iShares Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Providers Index ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ihf#NYSE">IHF</a>)

	Yet another change for the health care act referred to as Obamacare. The government announced yesterday that they are delaying another mandate for employers. Companies with 50 to 99 full-time workers will not have to provided health insurance to their workers until 2016.

	See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/14/02/4292008/three-etfs-to-buy-on-the-pullback-pjp-skyy-spy">Three ETFs To Buy On The Pullback (PJP, SKYY, SPY)</a>

	Originally the date was 2014, but was then delayed to 2015 and now it has been pushed back yet again. The one ETF that may be moving the most on the news is IHF, which is a basket of several of the health care insurance companies that are directly affect by the Obamacare announcements.

	iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tlt#NYSE">TLT</a>)

	New Fed Chair Janet Yellen will make her first Congressional appearance since taking over the roll last month. Yellen will be pressured about the ugly jobs numbers and how the Fed plans to continue with the unwinding of the QE program.

	Every word will be analyzed and stocks will move throughout the session. Bonds will also be directly affected by the comments regarding QE and if the taper will continue at the current pace. Bonds were up slightly the last two days after a three-day sell-off last week.

	SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xrt#NYSE">XRT</a>)

	The retail stocks took a beating in January, but a rebound the last few sessions has XRT back off the multi-month lows. This morning the Redbook Chain Store Sales came in with a gain of 2.8 percent year-over-year versus a gain of 2.7 percent last week. The ISCSC Retail Sales numbers increased by 2.3 percent over last year versus no gain for the same reading last week.

	Adding to the decent numbers, the National Retail Federation forecasted retail sales to increase by 4.3 percent this year versus a gain of 3.7 percent last year. XRT will be a good benchmark for the overall sector and if the Yellen testimony does not hit stocks today, the rally in the ETF should continue.

Bonds

SKYY

ETF Outlook For Tuesday, February 11, 2014 (SKYY, IHF, TLT, XRT)

Dealmaking Outlook: Unsettled, With Bright Spots

Sector Insights: What Could Go Right In 2024?

Are Healthcare Stocks A Risky Prescription In A U.S. Election Year?

Why Biotech Stocks May Be Ready For A Recovery

2024 Outlook: A New 'Super Boom'? Or Chop And Churn?

Taking Stock: Q2 2024 Equity Market Outlook

iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF declares quarterly distribution of $0.1053

XLV: Fundamentals Don't Support Overweighting Health Care

Equity Market Outlook Q2 2024: Extreme Distortions Everywhere - A Moment For Active Management

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
People are interested in ETFs for weight loss because of Oprah&rsquo;s TV show &ldquo;Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution,&rdquo; which was about weight loss drugs. A lot of people are upset that she&rsquo;s talking to patients and doctors about using prescription drugs to lose weight, but it&rsquo;s still causing a stir.



It&rsquo;s also big news that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/03/15/oprah-winfrey-weight-watchers-exit-medication-abc-special/72987200007/#:~:text=Oprah%20Winfrey%20opens%20up%20about%20exiting%20Weight%20Watchers%20after%20using%20weight%20loss%20drug&amp;text=Oprah%20Winfrey%20is%20opening%20up,weight%20loss%20medication%20in%202023.">Oprah is leaving the Weight Watchers board</a>. The fact that she backs drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic shows how times are changing for everyone. It&rsquo;s always been hard for the famous talk show host to lose weight. But because she was so famous, everything she suggested to lose weight sold out very quickly.



In other words, we see the same pattern with drugs that help people lose weight. Because of <a href="https://time.com/6958224/oprah-weight-loss-special-ozempic/">Oprah&rsquo;s ABC special</a>, the dieting business and the practice of dieting are changing. This is like what happened when she really tried to lose weight in 1998. The only difference is the methodology she&rsquo;s adopting.



But be careful while Oprah fights the social shame that comes with losing weight with Ozempic. Not only does Ozempic have side effects, but a lot of new medicines need testing.



Then, what is the safest thing to do with this trend? Investing in the best exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for weight loss can open up a lot of health and fitness-related doors for you. While Oprah plugs diet pills, let&rsquo;s look at three exchange-traded funds that can help you lose weight.



<h2>iShares US Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/healthcare1600d-300x169.jpg" alt="Healthcare professional in green scrubs standing with arms crossed."><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>The iShares US Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ihf-stock-quote/">IHF</a>), up 11% in the past year, boasts a competitive expense ratio of 0.40% and a dividend yield of 0.78%. It is riding the Oprah momentum, which is turning back the clock to the late 90s. <a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency//"></a>



The expense ratio indicates the amount you will pay to own a fund over the course of a year. In this case, it is pretty reasonable, meaning there are no complaints to management. The yield might seem a bit ordinary, but this is an ETF we are talking about.



At the end of last year, IHF divided its shares five-to-one to reduce their value and increase the number of outstanding shares, which improved accessibility. 



One of the oldest weight-loss ETFs available, IHF focuses on the healthcare and nursing home industries and tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Health Care Providers Index.



Its reduced volatility in correlation with the market overall as a whole gives it the attributes of medium risk, which exhibits a beta of 0.72 and standard deviation of 17.20% over a 3-year historical time period.



IHF&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239510/ishares-us-healthcare-providers-etf">portfolio&rsquo;s top holdings</a>, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/unh-stock-quote/">UNH</a>), CVS Health (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cvs-stock-quote/">CVS</a>), Cigna (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ci-stock-quote/">CI</a>) and Humana (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/hum-stock-quote/">HUM</a>), at 22%, 4%, 10% and 4%, respectively, offer many wellness programs that can ride the current Oprah momentum to the bank. These programs include diet plans from Humana, over-the-counter weight loss supplements at CVS MinuteClinics, nutritional counseling from Cigna and weight management plans through UnitedHealth&rsquo;s Optum.



<h2>The Obesity ETF (SLIM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/healthcare-stocks1600-300x169.png" alt="drugs pill and stock chart growing up with money, business and economic news background. business profit analysis trend and future. hospital and healthcare segment. Healthcare stocks"><div>Source: WHYFRAME / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Janus Henderson&rsquo;s The Obesity ETF (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/slim-stock-quote/">SLIM</a>) tracks the performance of global companies offering obesity-related services, but the twist is that several fields fall under this category. Just as we saw with IHF, there is no singular way to invest in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, plus-size clothing, weight loss programs and medical devices.



The Obesity ETF invests at least 80% of its net assets in the stocks that comprise the&nbsp;Solactive Obesity Index. Its lack of diversity compared to other exchange-traded funds means it may favor investing in specific companies or industries.



At $11.63 million in net worth, SLIM offers a dividend yield of 0.57%. The fund&rsquo;s disastrous losses as of late &mdash; a year-to-date total loss of 11.27% &mdash; are due to the unpredictable nature of the healthcare industry.



Companies involved in treating diabetes and obesity account for about three quarters of SLIM&rsquo;s assets. Regarding ownership, Novo Nordisk&lsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvo-stock-quote/">NVO</a>) 20% and DexCom&lsquo;s (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/dxcm-stock-quote/">DXCM</a>) 13% are at the top.



As a weight loss product manufacturer, SLIM owns Novo Nordisk and Herbalife (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/hlf-stock-quote/">HLF</a>). Obese adults can take one of two weight management medications made by industry giant Novo Nordisk: Wegovy or Saxenda. Among Herbalife&rsquo;s many health and weight loss aids are protein shakes, bars and teas. It&rsquo;s worth remembering that Wegovy is a name that has been popping up a lot ever since Oprah decided to create a major cultural boost for these prescription drugs.



Several prominent <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SLIM/holdings/">companies are part of its portfolio</a>, including Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tndm-stock-quote/">TNDM</a>), Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/podd-stock-quote/">PODD</a>), and DexCom. Weight loss aids made by these companies, which boost metabolic health, make managing diabetes easier. Healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers all have an indirect interest in helping with weight management.



<h2>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pharmaceutical1600-300x169.png" alt="pharmaceutical industry. Production line machine conveyor with glass bottles ampoules at factory"><div>Source: Dmitry Kalinovsky / Shutterstock.com</div></div>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF&lsquo;s (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pph-stock-quote/">PPH</a>) focus on pharmaceuticals makes for an interesting analysis. It&rsquo;s the main beneficiary of the Oprah-led boom.



The ETF has increased by more than 7% to $85.44 in the last year. Shares are issued and redeemed on demand by this open-ended investment company. On Mar. 31, net assets and share class size totaled $543.2 million.



With a net expense ratio of only 0.36%, this shows the fund&rsquo;s operational expenditures are managed effectively. 



VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF&rsquo;s portfolio helped develop weight-loss and treatment drugs. Tigepatide, sold as Mounjaro, has made Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/lly-stock-quote/">LLY</a>) a weight loss pharmaceutical giant. Tirzepatide, first approved for type 2 diabetes, regulates hunger and insulin secretion by blocking GLP-1 and GIP receptors. This medication can reduce weight by 20% in overweight or obese non-diabetics.



Novo Nordisk has benefited from semaglutide, which is sold as Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes, two names linked to Oprah and her new attitude toward weight management. This chronic weight management program helps patients lose 15%, making Wegovy famous. 



On the date of publication, Faizan Farooque did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Faizan Farooque is a contributing author for InvestorPlace.com and numerous other financial sites. Faizan has several years of experience in analyzing the stock market and was a former data journalist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. His passion is to help the average investor make more informed decisions regarding their portfolio.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-weight-loss-etfs-to-profit-from-the-obesity-drug-boom/">3 Weight-Loss ETFs to Profit From the Obesity Drug Boom</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.