We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.In this article, we are going to take a look at where Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) stands against the other healthcare stocks.
McKinsey reported that, since 2019, the US healthcare industry witnessed significant financial pressure. This is evidenced by the fact that industry EBITDA as a proportion of the National Health Expenditure has declined by an estimated 150 bps (basis points). This fall has impacted payers and providers. Notably, the payers’ estimated margins in 2024 might be at their lowest levels in a decade. While providers have been facing labor shortages, the inflationary pressures have not yet been fully absorbed in the broader healthcare system.
Amidst these past trends, what does the future hold?
What Lies Ahead for the US Healthcare Industry?
McKinsey believes that the healthcare players need to consider potential policy and regulatory changes that can take place in the coming years due to the 2025 change in federal government administration. Furthermore, the industry continues to undergo a shift in growth dynamics. Health services and technology (HST) revenue pools are projected to increase at an 8% CAGR from 2023 to 2028, courtesy of the double-digit growth in software platforms and advanced data and analytics via sales of innovative technologies (such as generative AI) to providers and payers.
Furthermore, pharmacy services can see continued growth, mainly those having a focus on specialty pharmacy. Growth is expected to be fueled by increased utilization and new therapy launches, says McKinsey. Notably, specialty pharmacy revenue is projected to rise at an 8% CAGR from 2023 to 2028, boosting EBITDA for specialty pharmacies and managed service providers.
McKinsey estimates that healthcare EBITDA is expected to increase by 7% CAGR to $987 billion in 2028 from a baseline of $676 billion in 2023. In many segments, the improvement is expected to be backed by recovery from post-pandemic lows, while in other areas (such as HST and specialty pharmacy), growth is projected to be faster. Software platforms have a key role in the healthcare ecosystem, allowing providers and payers to be more efficient in a complex environment.
Technological innovation (such as generative AI and machine learning) continues to create opportunities for stakeholders throughout segments via automating workflows, promoting data connectivity, and generating actionable insights. McKinsey further added that specialty pharmacy revenue is expected to experience rapid growth because of higher utilization and pipeline expansion (such as in oncology). The increased use of specialty drugs continues to expand specialty pharmacy profit pools.
Our Methodology
To list the 12 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Analysts, we used a screener and filtered out the companies catering to the healthcare sector. Next, we chose the stocks that analysts saw the most upside to. Finally, the stocks were arranged in ascending order of their average upside potential, as of February 4. We also mentioned hedge fund sentiments around each stock, as of Q3 2024.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with 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).
A scientist in a laboratory making a breakthrough discovery in biotechnology.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) discovers and develops RNA-targeted therapeutics in the United States. David Lebowitz, an analyst from Citi, gave a “Buy” rating on the company’s shares, while the associated price target remains the same at $67.00. The rating stems from a combination of factors related to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS)’s promising pipeline and upcoming catalysts. It has recently rolled out its first independently developed drug, TRYNGOLZA, after FDA approval, demonstrating a significant shift from its previous partnership model. The move demonstrates Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS)’s capability to commercialize its own products, which is anticipated to continue with the expected approval of donidalorsen in 2025.
To provide a brief context, TRYNGOLZA is the first-ever FDA-approved treatment that significantly and substantially reduces triglyceride levels in adults with FCS and offers clinically meaningful reduction in AP events when used with an appropriate diet (≤20 grams of fat per day). Furthermore, the analyst opines that the upcoming trials and data releases for candidates like pelacarsen, anticipated to enter a potentially large Lp(a) market, strengthen Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS)’s growth prospects.
The company executed an equity offering, extending Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS)’s cash runway, and enabling it to continue to invest in the numerous attractive opportunities. In September 2024, the company issued 11.5 million shares of its common stock, generating gross proceeds of $500 million. It plans to continue deploying its capital resources toward growth opportunities and expects to end 2024 with $2.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.
Overall IONS ranks 2nd on our list of the best healthcare stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of IONS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than IONS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
