Healthcare firms most favoured by analysts: survey

A SURVEY by fund manager Fidelity has found that its investment analysts like healthcare companies the most as these are benefiting from increased innovation and an ageing population.

The survey compiles views from roughly 17,000 meetings each year between the company's 159 equity and fixed-income analysts and a corporate decision-maker involving confidence levels, capital expenditure, balance sheet strength and dividend payouts.

Some 60 per cent of healthcare analysts reported increased management confidence among healthcare companies, 60 per cent expected rising returns on capital whilst half anticipate increased dividend payouts in the sector.