As we move to fresh breakout highs in the major market indices, healthcare stocks have received special attention from large money managers, with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLV) up nearly 14% since October 3, sharply outperforming the rest of the market.
But many of the stocks driving that action are lower-beta behemoths in the big pharma space, offering little in the way of the short-term gas-pedal returns aggressive traders and investors may be looking for.
But don’t despair. Here are three stocks in the space that carry dramatic movement potential in high-growth fundamental trends, an innovative approach, and the promise of plenty of excitement for those willing to take a bit more risk to potentially achieve much higher returns: Veeva Systems Inc (NYSE:VEEV), Progressive Care Inc. (OTCMKTS:RXMD), and Cerner Corporation (NASDAQ:CERN).
Veeva Systems Inc (NYSE:VEEV) is a stock that has been a favorite among speculators over the past two years, and the company has produced the growth to justify that trend. The stock is down over recent days after reporting Q3 data that was very strong, but may have failed to live up to overly ambitious expectations. But the strong growth continues for the company.
“It was a very exciting quarter. We delivered great results, significantly expanded in new and existing areas, and welcomed Crossix and Physicians World to the Veeva team,” said CEO Peter Gassner. “Our focus on innovation, customer success, and ability to execute across multiple large markets sets us up for strong growth well into the future.”
Total revenues for the third quarter were $280.9 million, up from $224.7 million one year ago, an increase of 25% year-over-year. Subscription services revenues for the third quarter were $226.8 million, up from $178.2 million one year ago, an increase of 27% year-over-year. Third quarter operating income was $80.8 million, compared to $63.1 million one year ago, an increase of 28% year-over-year. Non-GAAP operating income for the third quarter was $111.6 million, compared to $84.8 million one year ago, an increase of 32% year-over-year.
Veeva Systems Inc (NYSE:VEEV) bills itself as a company that provides cloud-based software for the life sciences industry in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally.
The company offers Veeva Commercial Cloud, a suite of multichannel customer relationship management applications, data solutions, and master data management solutions; and Veeva Vault, a cloud-based enterprise content management applications for managing commercial functions, including medical, sales, and marketing, as well as research and development functions, such as clinical, regulatory, quality, and safety.
It also provides professional and support services in the areas of implementation and deployment planning and project management; requirements analysis, solution design, and configuration; systems environment management and deployment services; services focused on advancing or transforming business and operating processes related to Veeva solutions; technical consulting services related to data migration and systems integrations; training on its solutions; and ongoing managed services that include outsourced systems administration.
Progressive Care Inc. (OTCMKTS:RXMD) may be starting to get on a lot of radars right now.
This is an OTC stock, but the company’s financial performance puts it in a different class from other similar names. RXMD just set a host of new records in its latest quarterly report, including total sales, gross profitability, and prescriptions filled.
RXMD shares advanced as much as 130% in November, and closed the month up by just over 50%. However, at the same time, new investors might have the opportunity to benefit from a shakeout of about 40% over the past 6 days of trading.
Progressive Care Inc (OTCMKTS:RXMD) provides prescription pharmaceuticals to individuals and institutions in south Florida through its Pharmco subsidiary. But the company is also rapidly angling toward a more diversified health services model, with proprietary branded CBD products and a disruptive telehealth strategy.
The company just reported 91% y/y top-line growth in Q3 and is already reporting even faster growth in Q4.
The CEO, S. Parikh Mars, said: “The annualized pace we set in October equates to new records across the board as we continue to see broad-based top-line expansion on improving margins. Our $3.4 million in overall sales for October is an understatement because it leaves out the cash flows we took in during the month related to third-party billing activity. With all factors included, the number of gross billing would be closer to $4.2 million. And our 46k prescriptions filled puts Q4 on pace to handily supass our breakout Q3 performance already. Execution continues to be tremendous, and I am very proud of our talented and dedicated team.”
According to that release, the Company achieved over $3.4 million in overall October sales (not including an additional $800,000 third-party related billing activity), representing 78% annual growth in sales compared to October 2018, and 10% monthly growth in sales on a sequential monthly basis.
Progressive Care Inc (OTCMKTS:RXMD) operates a retail pharmacy that specializes in the sale of anti-retroviral medications and related patient care management; the sale and rental of durable medical equipment (DME), such as hospital beds, oxygen supplies, power wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and other related equipment and accessories; and the supply of various prescription medications to long term care facilities.
It also provides long term care solutions to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, retirement centers and communities, doctors’ offices, and clinics. In addition, the company purchases, repackages, and dispenses prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical products for its long term care customers.
Further, it offers computerized maintenance of patient prescription histories; third party billing; and consultant pharmacist services consisting of evaluation of monthly patient drug therapy and monitoring the institution’s drug distribution system, as well as home service and maintenance, defective product replacements, and free home installation and instruction services.
Cerner Corporation (NASDAQ:CERN) has been charging back up the charts in recent action as well. This is another leading healthcare technology play.
The company offers Cerner Millennium architecture, a person-centric computing framework, which includes clinical, financial, and management information systems that allow providers to access an individual’s electronic health record (EHR) at the point of care, and organizes and delivers information for physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, front- and back-office professionals, and consumers.
In its latest quarterly report, the company saw bookings in the quarter at the high-end of the company’s expectations at $1.651 billion. Third quarter 2019 revenue was $1.429 billion, an increase of 7% compared to $1.340 billion in the third quarter of 2018, and in line with the company’s expectations. GAAP Q3 net earnings for the quarter came in at $81.9 million and diluted earnings per share hit at $0.26.
“I am pleased with our execution in the third quarter as we again delivered against the expectations we set while also continuing to advance Cerner’s broader transformation,” said Brent Shafer, chairman and CEO, Cerner “I believe the balanced focus of near-term operational improvements combined with our innovation and growth strategies position Cerner to deliver sustainable and profitable growth.”Shares of the stock continue to show strength over just about every timeframe, but can be seen as in a consolidation that could be tracing out a path toward an eventual fresh breakout. The stock is trading above its major moving averages after finding support at its 200-day MA twice in the past six weeks.
