So far this year the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care (Index: ^AXHJ) (ASX: XHJ) has been a huge mover, climbing almost 18%.
Despite this sizeable gain, I still believe the healthcare sector has some great long-term investment options for investors to snap up today.
Here are two of my favourites:
The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has been on fire this year and climbed a whopping 30%. As a major part of the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care index, the leading biotherapeutics company's gain has been a key catalyst to its outperformance.
Pleasingly, I believe it can continue to climb higher from here thanks to its leading immunoglobulins business and the strong demand it is experiencing. Furthermore, the company's fledgling Seqirus influenza vaccine business has started to show its promise. Management expects the business to break-even in FY 2018. After which, I believe it will be onwards and upwards for it.
The Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) share price has also performed strongly this year, rising close to 8% year-to-date. Like CSL, I wouldn't be put off by this gain. After all, Ramsay is arguably one of the best buy and hold investments on the Australian share market today in my opinion.
Especially with the global population aged 60 or above forecast to more than triple by 2050. I expect this to lead to a strong demand for healthcare services for at least the next two to three decades, which should put the company in a position to continue to deliver above-average earnings growth for the foreseeable future.
