Singapore healthcare stocks: no more a defensive play as pandemic boost fades

SINGAPORE-LISTED healthcare players have witnessed retreating earnings and share prices this year, but analysts said that they continue to see good prospects for select stocks.

The iEdge Singapore All Healthcare Index delivered total returns of minus 2.5 per cent in the year to Monday (Nov 6). In comparison, the benchmark Straits Times Index was up 2.3 per cent over the same period.

These stocks may be correcting from their pandemic highs. The index generated total returns of 70.3 per cent in 2020, against an 8.1 per cent decline for the bourse’s blue-chip barometer.