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3 Healthcare Mutual Funds for Stellar Returns

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One of the best ways to safeguard investments is by parking money in the healthcare sector. This is because demand for healthcare services does not change with market conditions. Many pharmaceutical companies also pay out regular dividends.

Companies that consistently offer dividends are financially stable and generate steady cash flows irrespective of market conditions. Mutual funds are the perfect choices for investors looking to enter this sector since they possess the advantages of wide diversification and analytical insight.

Below we share with you three top-ranked healthcare mutual funds. Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of healthcare funds, their Zacks Rank and past performance.

T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund (PRHSX - Free Report) is a non-diversified fund that invests more than 80% of its assets in common stocks of companies engaged in various activities in the field of healthcare, medicine or life sciences. The fund mostly invests in mid- and large-capitalization companies. PRHSX sports a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and has three-year annualized returns of 14.8%.

As of the end of September 2020, PRHSX held 154 issues with 6.1% of its assets invested in UnitedHealth Group Inc.

Fidelity Select Pharmaceuticals Portfolio (FPHAX - Free Report) aims for capital growth. The fund invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies that research, develop and manufacture all types of pharmaceuticals and drugs. The non-diversified fund invests in securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers alike. FPHAX mostly invests in common stocks of companies. The fund carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and has returned 12.6% in the past three years.

FPHAX has an expense ratio of 0.78% compared with the category average of 1.21%.

Alger Health Sciences Fund Class C (AHSCX - Free Report) aims for long-term capital growth. It invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of companies across different market capitalizations that are engaged in the health sciences sector. The fund may also invest in foreign securities. AHSCX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and has three-year annualized returns of 15.4%.

Daniel C. Chung is the fund manager of AHSCX since 2005.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all healthcare mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of funds.

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