Health Care Sector Seasonality

How S&P 500 health care stocks have behaved through the calendar year, measured with XLV, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund, over the last 15 years. Its strongest month has been November (average +3.48%, higher in 13 of 15 years), and its weakest September (−0.84%, higher in 6 of 15).

Health Care seasonality chart

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Average year for XLV over the last 15 years: it ends the year +13.6%, with its highest point around December 29 (+13.8%) and its lowest around January 1 (0.0%). Each past year is rebased to 0% on January 1 and the years are averaged day by day. Rising stretches are when XLV has tended to gain.

Health Care stocks seasonality by month

XLV has beaten the S&P 500 (SPY) on average in 6 of the 12 months, with its biggest edge in March (+0.59%).

MonthXLV avgHigher inSPY avg
January+1.22%10 of 15 yrs+1.28%
February+0.79%10 of 15 yrs+1.12%
March+1.16%10 of 15 yrs+0.57%
April+1.08%8 of 15 yrs+1.18%
May+0.54%11 of 15 yrs+1.03%
June+1.66%10 of 15 yrs+1.37%
July+2.13%12 of 15 yrs+2.70%
August+0.23%8 of 15 yrs+0.16%
September−0.84%6 of 15 yrs−1.16%
October+1.38%8 of 15 yrs+2.17%
November+3.48%13 of 15 yrs+3.29%
December+0.37%8 of 15 yrs+0.31%

From split- and dividend-adjusted prices, complete years only. See our methodology. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Health Care stocks in the S&P 500

60 stocks, largest first by market cap as of November 2026. Open any one for its own seasonality chart and best months.

LLYLilly (Eli)JNJJohnson & JohnsonABBVAbbVieMRKMerckUNHUnitedHealthTMOThermo Fisher ScientificAMGNAmgenGILDGilead SciencesABTAbbott LaboratoriesPFEPfizerDHRDanaherISRGIntuitive SurgicalVRTXVertex PharmaceuticalsBMYBristol Myers SquibbMDTMedtronicMCKMcKessonCVSCVS HealthSYKStrykerHCAHCA HealthcareREGNRegeneron PharmaceuticalsELVElevance HealthMRNAModernaCICignaCORCencoraBSXBoston ScientificCAHCardinal HealthBDXBecton DickinsonEWEdwards LifesciencesVEEVVeeva SystemsHUMHumanaAAgilent TechnologiesWATWatersIQVIQVIAIDXXIdexx LaboratoriesBIIBBiogenILMNIlluminaGEHCGE HealthCareCNCCenteneMTDMettler ToledoZTSZoetisRMDResMedDXCMDexcomLHLabcorpWSTWest Pharmaceutical ServicesDGXQuest DiagnosticsINCYIncyteSTESterisVTRSViatrisZBHZimmer BiometRVTYRevvityCRLCharles River LaboratoriesSOLVSolventumBAXBaxter InternationalDVADaVitaTECHBio-TechneCOOCooper CompaniesALGNAlign TechnologyPODDInsuletUHSUniversal Health ServicesHSICHenry Schein

Health Care seasonality FAQ

What is the best month for health care stocks?

Measured by XLV over the last 15 years, November has been the strongest month, averaging +3.48% and rising in 13 of 15 years.

What is the worst month for health care stocks?

September has been the weakest, averaging −0.84% and rising in 6 of 15 years.

Which stocks are in the health care sector?

The 60 S&P 500 health care stocks listed on this page, led by LLY, JNJ, ABBV, MRK, UNH by market cap.

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