Healthcare Scan
Healthcare Scan
Healthcare repaired its pullback in the week to October 9: $XLV rose 2.79% to RSI 57.0 (41.3 a week ago), 20 of 24 names gained, and only 11 now sit below their 20-day average, down from 17. $JNJ and $ABT climbed out of the oversold band, and $MDT closed back at its 200-day. What still fails: $HROW (RSI 24.3) is the one oversold name and its long trend is broken, and two of the week's sharpest gainers, $ISRG (+8.17%) and $ZTS (+7.35%), are bounces that have not yet retaken their 200-day averages. $ITGR (74.8) and $MRNA (72.1) are extended, with $VEEV (69.3) close behind.
Data as of the 2026-10-09 settled close; 24 tickers, all carrying a 2026-10-09 bar.
Quick Snapshot
| Signal | Reading |
|---|---|
| Overall | 🟢 Sector pullback repaired inside a positive year; the broken names are bouncing but not fixed |
| Leaders | $ITGR (extended, at its high); $MRNA (new 52-week high, extended); $VEEV (near its high, but on a flat year); $GILD and $XLV (above their 20-day averages in intact trends) |
| Laggards | $HROW (capitulation RSI, long trend broken); $CVS (below its 200-day on a positive year); $DXCM and $GH (pullbacks below their 20-day averages in intact trends) |
| Key insight | The medtech bounce is real on the week but not on the year: $ISRG, $SYK and $ABT are all still below their 200-day averages on negative years; $MDT is the only one back to the line |
| Caveat | No driver is on file for the week's largest moves ($MRNA, $VEEV, $ISRG, $ZTS): their news predates the moves or failed to pull, and no October 9 news is on file. A Zoetis 8-K dated October 8 is on file but its contents are not reviewed here |
What's Going On
The sector fund moved from pullback to trend. $XLV closed at $170.81, RSI 57.0, 1.3% above its 20-day and 8.8% above its 200-day, with a +18.46% year and 3.28% below its 52-week high. Pharma steadied: $JNJ rose 2.11% to RSI 46.7 (32.3 a week ago), still 7.6% above its 200-day on a +36.82% year; $GILD gained 4.44% (59.0) and $LLY 3.19% (54.2). $UNH (49.4) closed back above its 20-day, 6.1% above its 200-day on a +3.16% year. $JNJ is scheduled to report on October 13, with UnitedHealth's report estimated for the same day.
Medtech bounced inside broken trends. $ISRG gained 8.17% on the week and 20.02% over 30 days to RSI 66.7, but it is still 4.4% below its 200-day ($443.41) on a -4.46% year and 29.79% below its high; the desk's thesis rating is intact while the tape is not, which is the gap to reconcile before reading it as a setup. Its news was last pulled September 30; Intuitive Surgical is scheduled to report on October 20. $ABT left the oversold band (42.3, from 29.7) but is 3.6% below its 200-day on a -25.29% year; $SYK (42.7) is 15.5% below on a -25.09% year. $MDT (48.3) is the only medtech name back at its 200-day (0.1% above), on a -8.31% year. $ZTS rose 7.35% on the week to RSI 59.5 and remains 22.9% below its 200-day on a -47.83% year; a Zoetis 8-K filed October 8 is on file, its contents not reviewed here, and its news pull has failed since April, so the cause is not established.
The top of the board is stretched. $ITGR closed at RSI 74.8, 0.15% below its high and 30.1% above its 200-day, yet only 0.2% above its 20-day and +0.13% on the week on 1.96 times average volume: a tight hold at the high rather than a sprint, with no news file on hand. $MRNA gained 14.21% on Friday and 18.41% on the week to a 52-week high at RSI 72.1, 209.8% above its 200-day; no driver is on file (news last pulled September 30). $VEEV gained 8.34% on the week to RSI 69.3, 46% above its 200-day but -0.78% on the year, so its long trend counts as a repair, not an intact run; its news was last pulled September 8.
$HROW is the weak spot: $29.36, -3.8% on Friday on 2.16 times average volume, RSI 24.3, -21.81% over 30 days, 26.5% below its 200-day on a -27.63% year and 46.47% below its high. Its news was last pulled October 3 and its newest item dates to September 10, so no cause is on file for the slide.
What Changed Since Prior Scan (2026-10-02)
- Oversold band narrowed: 1 of 24 under RSI 30 ($HROW), from 2 ($HROW, $ABT).
- Extended band widened: 2 of 24 at RSI 70 or higher ($ITGR, $MRNA), from 1 ($ITGR); $VEEV sits just under the line.
- Breadth: below the 20-day, 11 of 24 (17 a week ago); below the 200-day, 6 of 24 (7 a week ago); negative year, 7 of 24 (unchanged); up on the week, 20 of 24.
- Long-trend changes: $MDT moved back to its 200-day on a negative year (broken a week ago, now under test). No name lost its 200-day.
- Universe unchanged: the same 24 tickers as the October 2 edition.
How To Read The Board
RSI under 30 is oversold, 70 and over extended. The one-year return and the distance to the 200-day separate a pullback from a breakdown: above the 200-day on a positive year is intact; one test failed is under test or a repair; both failed is broken. $DXCM, $VRTX, $GH, $JNJ, $MRK, $TMO and $ATRC are below their 20-day averages inside intact trends. $HROW, $ABT, $SYK, $ZTS and $ISRG are below their 200-day averages on negative years. The board carries price and RSI only; a low RSI is screen evidence, not a recommendation.
Price Table
Tape figures below are live-bound to the desk summaries; the as-of date is shown per row.
| Stock | Price ($) | RSI | SMA20 ($) | vs SMA20 (%) | 7D (%) | 30D (%) | 1Y (%) | vs SMA200 (%) | As of | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HROW | 29.36 | 24.3 | 32.14 | -8.6 | -3.67 | -21.81 | -27.63 | -26.5 | 2026-10-09 | 🔴 Long trend broken |
| CVS | 86.16 | 38.6 | 88.16 | -2.3 | -0.35 | -9.67 | 12.28 | -2 | 2026-10-09 | 🟡 Mixed long trend |
| DXCM | 84.11 | 42.1 | 86.53 | -2.8 | -1.46 | 0.27 | 23.55 | 14.4 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| ABT | 99.6 | 42.3 | 100.74 | -1.1 | 2.15 | -5.35 | -25.29 | -3.6 | 2026-10-09 | 🔴 Long trend broken |
| SYK | 277.33 | 42.7 | 276.96 | 0.1 | 0.69 | 0.7 | -25.09 | -15.5 | 2026-10-09 | 🔴 Bounce, long trend broken |
| VRTX | 510.08 | 45.6 | 513.81 | -0.7 | 1.06 | -2.12 | 22.95 | 7.4 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| GH | 167.47 | 46.1 | 175.36 | -4.5 | -5.81 | 2.88 | 156.62 | 33.2 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| JNJ | 261.44 | 46.7 | 264.69 | -1.2 | 2.11 | -2.11 | 36.82 | 7.6 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| MDT | 88.48 | 48.3 | 89.33 | -0.9 | 2.43 | -3.71 | -8.31 | 0.1 | 2026-10-09 | 🟡 Mixed long trend |
| UNH | 379.3 | 49.4 | 374.92 | 1.2 | 1.99 | -3.5 | 3.16 | 6.1 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| MRK | 145.6 | 51.6 | 145.82 | -0.2 | 0.9 | -1.31 | 66.4 | 17.5 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| LLY | 1179.27 | 54.2 | 1161.32 | 1.5 | 3.19 | 4.9 | 37.87 | 9.5 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| TMO | 658.02 | 54.4 | 659.76 | -0.3 | 0.49 | 8.64 | 23.07 | 20.8 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| ATRC | 55.81 | 54.6 | 56.8 | -1.7 | 1.22 | 5.24 | 53.03 | 52.2 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day |
| AMGN | 414.87 | 54.8 | 402.18 | 3.2 | 2.94 | 6.03 | 40.43 | 13.2 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| PFE | 28.28 | 55.8 | 27.99 | 1 | 1.73 | 1.8 | 12.04 | 6.9 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| BIIB | 225.71 | 56.5 | 222.36 | 1.5 | 2.65 | 7.11 | 50.87 | 14.9 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| XLV | 170.81 | 57 | 168.68 | 1.3 | 2.79 | 2.54 | 18.46 | 8.8 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| GILD | 151.17 | 59 | 148.77 | 1.6 | 4.44 | 3.79 | 29.49 | 10.1 | 2026-10-09 | 🟢 Healthy trend |
| ZTS | 74.81 | 59.5 | 71.71 | 4.3 | 7.35 | 2.05 | -47.83 | -22.9 | 2026-10-09 | 🔴 Bounce, long trend broken |
| ISRGE | 423.96 | 66.7 | 400.65 | 5.8 | 8.17 | 20.02 | -4.46 | -4.4 | 2026-10-09 | 🔴 Bounce, long trend broken |
| VEEV | 296.13 | 69.3 | 274.97 | 7.7 | 8.34 | 13.55 | -0.78 | 46 | 2026-10-09 | 🟡 Mixed long trend |
| MRNA | 225 | 72.1 | 183.05 | 22.9 | 18.41 | 65.92 | 717.29 | 209.8 | 2026-10-09 | 🟠 Extended |
| ITGR | 126.61 | 74.8 | 126.37 | 0.2 | 0.13 | 0.6 | 22.45 | 30.1 | 2026-10-09 | 🟠 Extended |
Tier Analysis
Capitulation (RSI under 25)
Long-trend status: intact (above the 200-day, positive year) none; under test or repairing (one long test failed) none; broken (below the 200-day, negative year) $HROW.
Oversold (RSI 25 to 40)
Long-trend status: intact (above the 200-day, positive year) none; under test or repairing (one long test failed) $CVS; broken (below the 200-day, negative year) none.
Neutral to strong (RSI 40 and up)
$DXCM, $ABT, $SYK, $VRTX, $GH, $JNJ, $MDT, $UNH, $MRK, $LLY, $TMO, $ATRC, $AMGN, $PFE, $BIIB, $XLV, $GILD, $ZTS, $ISRG, $VEEV, $MRNA, $ITGR
Entry Zones
Zones are conditions (a level plus a confirmation), not orders. Levels are live-bound to the desk summaries.
| Stock | Zone ($) | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| DXCM | Up to 86.53 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, the 200-day (73.51) is the floor |
| VRTX | 484.7 (shelf) to 513.81 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, a close under the shelf voids it |
| GH | Up to 175.36 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, the 200-day (125.75) is the floor |
| JNJ | 254.96 (shelf) to 264.69 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, a close under the shelf voids it |
| MRK | Up to 145.82 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, the 200-day (123.9) is the floor |
| TMO | Up to 659.76 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, the 200-day (544.94) is the floor |
| ATRC | Up to 56.8 (20-day) | Pullback inside an intact trend; confirmation is a close back above the 20-day, the 200-day (36.67) is the floor |
| CVS | None below the 200-day (87.91) | Long trend under test; a close back above the 200-day is the condition before any entry |
| MRNA | Wait for a pullback toward 183.05 (20-day) | Stretched; no entry while extended above the 20-day |
| ITGR | Wait for a pullback toward 126.37 (20-day) | RSI extended while price sits close to the 20-day; wait for RSI to cool before treating the 20-day as an entry |
| HROW | No entry zone | Oversold with the long trend broken; a watch item, not a setup |
Action Matrix
| Stock | Signal | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXCM | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| VRTX | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| GH | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| JNJ | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| MRK | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| TMO | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| ATRC | 🟢 Healthy, below 20-day | 📈 Accumulate | Above the 200-day with a positive year, below the 20-day: pullback zone, confirmation is a 20-day reclaim |
| UNH | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| LLY | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| AMGN | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| PFE | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| BIIB | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| XLV | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| GILD | 🟢 Healthy trend | 🔒 Hold | Above the 20-day and 200-day with a positive year |
| CVS | 🟡 Mixed long trend | 🔍 Watch | Positive year but below the 200-day: long trend under test; the 200-day is the line |
| MDT | 🟡 Mixed long trend | 🔍 Watch | Above the 200-day on a negative year: a repair, not yet an intact trend |
| VEEV | 🟡 Mixed long trend | 🔍 Watch | Above the 200-day on a negative year: a repair, not yet an intact trend |
| MRNA | 🟠 Extended | ⚠️ Don't chase | RSI 70 or higher; wait for a rest toward the 20-day |
| ITGR | 🟠 Extended | ⚠️ Don't chase | RSI 70 or higher; wait for a rest toward the 20-day |
| HROW | 🔴 Long trend broken | ❌ Avoid | Below the 200-day with a negative year; no trend to ride until the 200-day is reclaimed |
| ABT | 🔴 Long trend broken | ❌ Avoid | Below the 200-day with a negative year; no trend to ride until the 200-day is reclaimed |
| SYK | 🔴 Bounce, long trend broken | ❌ Avoid | Below the 200-day with a negative year; no trend to ride until the 200-day is reclaimed |
| ZTS | 🔴 Bounce, long trend broken | ❌ Avoid | Below the 200-day with a negative year; no trend to ride until the 200-day is reclaimed |
| ISRGE | 🔴 Bounce, long trend broken | ❌ Avoid | Below the 200-day with a negative year; no trend to ride until the 200-day is reclaimed |
What To Watch Next
- $JNJ reports on October 13 (scheduled) from 7.6% above its 200-day; $UNH's report is estimated for the same day.
- $ISRG at its 200-day test: a close above $443.41 would turn a 30-day bounce into a repair; Intuitive Surgical is scheduled to report on October 20.
- $XLV: holding above its 20-day ($168.68) keeps the sector's repair intact; the shelf at $158.08 sits near the 200-day.
- $ABT: still below its 200-day ($103.34) on a negative year; Abbott's report is estimated for October 21.
- $ITGR and $MRNA at their highs: the first close below the 20-day ($126.37 and $183.05) marks the first crack.
- $HROW: no shelf identified under the price; a broken trend with no floor is not a setup.
- $GH (-5.81% on the week, 33.2% above its 200-day on a +156.62% year): a pullback inside a strong trend; a reclaim of the 20-day ($175.36) is the confirmation.
Sources
- Tape data: pre-computed desk summary for the healthcare universe, as of the 2026-10-09 settled close (healthcare).
- Filing: 2026-10-08-zts-8-k-0001555280-26-000042 (SEC, Zoetis 8-K), not reviewed.
- News receipts: stocks<SYM>/news/latest.json` for MRNA (fetched 2026-09-30), ISRG (2026-09-30), VEEV (2026-09-08), HROW (2026-10-03), ZTS (failed, stale since 2026-04-29); ITGR has no news file. None covers an October 9 move.
- Event calendar:
research/stock-events/checked for 2026-10-03 to 2026-10-09 (no entries for these names);2026-10-13-jnj-earnings.md,2026-10-20-isrg-earnings.md(scheduled),2026-10-13-unh-earnings.md,2026-10-21-abt-earnings.md(estimated). No October 9 captures are on file. - Prior scan: 2026-10-02-healthcare-scan (structure, universe, and its October 2 readings cited as history).
Related
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