The S&P / ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is again trading slightly lower post dividend season as weakness in resources stocks is offset by a decent performance from the industrials and healthcare sector.
One of today's top performers comes from a healthcare sector which has performed strongly recently and is liked by some to outperform the market in the years ahead.
ResMed Inc. (CHESS) (ASX: RMD) has climbed 3.4% to $8.60 today as it enjoys the twin tailwinds of a strengthening US dollar and new product launches providing a sales kick.
ResMed sells sleep treatment products mainly into the US, but it is also expanding globally and as a market leader in terms of brand and technical product quality enjoys certain competitive advantages. The large unmet markets are what support virtually bullet proof revenue growth, while an experienced family management team with an eye on the long term ensure the business stays ahead of the game.
Lend Lease Group (ASX: LLC) is the construction giant currently working on the development of Barangaroo South Wharf in Sydney. The building works are in part on behalf of James Packer's entertainment group Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN). Lend Lease recently announced positive progress in that development and posted a 25% profit jump in its recent interim results.
Earnings per share for the period were 54.5 cents which on an annualised basis would mean the group trades on around 16x earnings after today's 3.2% price jump to $17.03 per share.
Technology One Limited (ASX: TNE) jumped 3.1% despite releasing no specific news to the market today. It is Australia's largest publically listed software company, with offices across six countries and it counts over 1,000 corporations, government departments and statutory authorities as its clients.
