Pandemic Plays: All Eyes on Health Services

My parents are in their late 80s. On the other side of the age spectrum, my twin grandsons are four years old. These loved ones in my family represent the age groups most at risk from the coronavirus pandemic.

Health care is uppermost in my mind these days. The same is true for lawmakers and Wall Street.

Worldwide, the coronavirus death toll has climbed past 21,000. The number of coronavirus-caused deaths in the U.S. topped 1,000 on Wednesday night.

The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a global health crisis, as health care providers get overwhelmed and Big Pharma rushes to create a vaccine. Infections and deaths from the virus are increasing exponentially, with all eyes on the vast health services industry.

To ensure that you have a comfortable retirement, you need to find those investments that are poised to generate a steady stream of profits, not just for the next 12 months, but during the next 10–20 years. Turn to health services stocks for long-term wealth building.

The major medical and drug providers typically enjoy strong cash flow, rock solid balance sheets, and long histories of earnings and revenue growth. They’re “essential services” plays that are recession-resistant. And make no mistake, the world economy is inevitably heading into a recession.

The Senate Wednesday approved a sweeping, roughly $2.2 trillion measure to address the coronavirus pandemic, after Democrats and Republicans put aside their bickering and achieved consensus with the White House on direct payments and jobless benefits for individuals, federal assistance for states, and a massive $500 billion bailout fund for struggling businesses.

The legislation, which is expected to be enacted in a matter of days, represents the biggest stimulus package in American history. A central part of the bill is $100 billion for hospitals and health systems throughout the nation, including billions more to furnish protective equipment for health care workers, testing supplies, and new hospital construction. Lawmakers also agreed to Medicare payment increases for all hospitals and providers.

Coronavirus is sparking a frenzy for treatments. Whenever a potential (and invariably unproven) drug treatment for the flu-like illness is mentioned in the media, hoarders come out of the woodwork to scoop up supplies.

When COVID-19 inevitably fades, certain sectors will surge forward because of factors driven by the pandemic.

Read This Story: Investing in a Post-COVID World

With the public’s focus on health services because of the coronavirus, beaten-down health and drug stocks are poised to rise.

Adrenaline-pumping volatility…

Despite its recent rebound, the stock market remains shaky and further sell-offs could be ahead.

Roller coasters may be closed right now because of quarantines and “social distancing,” but figuratively, investors still find themselves strapped into an adrenaline-pumping thrill ride (see chart).

U.S. stocks closed mixed but mostly higher Wednesday, extending Tuesday’s historic gains. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), aka the “fear index,” hovers at an all-time high, exceeding its peak from the 2008 financial crisis. That said, the VIX eased off a bit in recent days.

As of this writing Thursday morning, stocks were soaring due to investor optimism over stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve and Congress. The anticipation of a multi-trillion-dollar infusion for struggling workers and businesses offset a horrific weekly jobless-claims report.

The government reported today that a record 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the week ending March 21. The number far exceeded consensus expectations and gave a preview of the human and economic devastation to come because of the pandemic. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in a news interview today: “We may well be in a recession.”

The following trajectory of jobless claims is quite a shock:

Regardless of the partial recovery of the stock market, you need to conduct due diligence to find the right health services stocks. Our experts have done the homework for you. Below are two medical-related investment opportunities that are made all the more urgent because of the coronavirus epidemic.

The green rush…

We’re witnessing enormous demand for medical marijuana, to treat chronic diseases that tend to resist conventional treatments. You’ve doubtless heard of the “gold rush,” the 19th century phenomenon that sent hordes of miners flocking to California in search of the Midas Metal. Welcome to the marijuana “green rush.”

After a long march higher, marijuana sector stocks got overvalued and underwent a correction in 2019. But sales growth remains in place.

Read This Story: Reefer Madness: COVID19 Fuels Pot Hoarding

The legalization of marijuana represents one of your greatest chances right now to exponentially boost your wealth. An increasing number of states and localities are lifting prohibitions against pot.

Problem is, many of these medical (and recreational) marijuana plays are tiny penny stocks that generate neither earnings nor revenue. Investors who indiscriminately pile into the pot sector will see their money go up in smoke.

Indeed, the entire marijuana sector has undergone a brutal shakeout in recent months, as the share prices of the weakest players swoon. But our experts can point you in the direction of the right marijuana investments.

These quality pot stocks are selling at bargain basement prices. For our latest report on the best marijuana stocks, click here now.

A biotech beauty…

Did you know that there’s a new cure for the most common affliction that hurts older Americans? This affliction isn’t the coronavirus. Nor is it cancer, Alzheimer’s, or diabetes.

One in five adults suffer from this affliction. That’s around 50 million in the U.S. alone. And until recently, all of the treatments had major side effects. (In fact, they’re about to become illegal.) Which means the one biotech stock tied to this new cure for chronic pain could quickly skyrocket by as much as 4,450% or more.

You’ve probably never heard of the company. Wall Street analysts are ignoring it. But we’ve uncovered this hidden biotech gem and now’s the time to invest.

You need to act quickly, before the rest of the investment herd catches on and bids the share price sky high. Click here for details.

As people around the world fall ill and even die, there’s no reason for your portfolio to get sick, too. During this time of crisis, invest in defensive growth, by investing in “essential services.”

Few services are as essential as medical and drug treatments. The pandemic news headlines underscore this truism every day.

In the meantime, all of us here at Investing Daily wish you and your family safety and good health.

John Persinos is our editorial director. Questions about crisis investing? You can reach him at: mailbag@investingdaily.com