Here are the 5 ASX 200 healthcare shares that bested the rest in the 2021 financial year.
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5 best performing ASX 200 healthcare shares
Shareholders of these companies get ready to pat yourselves on the back.
Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)
The Pro Medicus share price beat those of all other ASX 200 healthcare shares, gaining almost 122% in the 2021 financial year. Shares in the healthcare imaging software provider started the financial year trading for $26.46 and by its end, they were swapping hands for $58.72.
In January, Pro Medicus signed a 7-year contract with Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, the United States. Over the 4 days following the news, the Pro Medicus share price gained 38%. It then finished the financial year off strong by gaining 41% in its last 7 weeks.
The last time the market heard news from Pro Medicus was in May when the company's subsidary signed a deal with The University of Vermont Health Network.
Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS)
The Healius share price ended the 2021 financial year 49% higher than when it began. Shares in the company lifted from $3.05 to $4.63 over the 12 months.
Healius is a healthcare company focused on pathology and imaging. It also has three up-and-coming business segments – dental, IVF, and day hospitals.
Healius started FY21 with a positive trading update, then released a healthy yearly earnings update in August, but chose not to pay a dividend.
In October 2020, it sold its medical centres business to BGH Capital for $483 million, which the company put towards an on-market buyback.
Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)
The Cochlear share price gained 33% in the 12 months ended 30 June 2021. That saw its share price go from $188.93 to $251.67.
Cochlear is a manufacturer and distributor of hearing devices.
COVID-19 saw Cochlear started the financial year by reporting a drop in profits and settling a patent infringement case brought against it for $75 million.
Fortunately, despite the company staying extremely quiet thereafter, the Cochlear share price managed to recover over the 12-month period.
Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL)
The Sonic share price made it be one of the ASX 200's winning healthcare shares after gaining more than 26% over the 2021 financial year. On 30 June 2020, the Sonic share price was $30.43. Exactly 12 months later it was $38.40.
Sonic is a pathology provider with business in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the US.
Sonic stayed relatively quiet over the 2021 financial year. The last time the market heard news from Sonic was on 17 June. Then, it announced it had agreed to acquire Canberra Imaging Group for an unspecified cost.
Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD)
Last, but certainly not least, was the Resmed share price, which gained almost 20% over the 12 months ended 30 June 2021. Having started the 2021 financial year trading for $27.55, Resmed shares ended it swapping hands for $32.76.
Resmed works with respiratory medical devices. It focuses on the treatment of sleep apnoea.
The final day of the 2021 financial year saw the Resmed share price hit a new all-time high. It came despite silence from the company.
In fact, aside from several quarterly results, the market hasn't heard any price-sensitive news from the ASX 200 healthcare company since July 2019.
Perhaps the boost was spurred by its major competitors' decision to recall 3.5 million ventilation devices designed to treat sleep apnoea.
