As investors look back and review the 12 months of 2015 there are certainly a number of highlights, but also plenty of lowlights too!
The performance of the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) rates a mention as a lowlight for its fall of 7% year to date (YTD).
Likewise, the weak performance of bank stocks and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) does too.
Then of course there are the resource and energy sectors which have seen a wipe-out in the share prices of many widely-held stocks such as BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) on account of plunging commodity prices.
Like I said, there have been some highlights though…
- CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) continued its steady, dependable performance to gain 16% (YTD) to trade above the $100 mark
- Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) recovered from a bout of significant volatility in March to add around 40%
- Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (ASX: MYX) soared 110% as the company implemented its US-led growth strategy
It's not the first time that healthcare sector stocks have performed well and displayed defensive characteristics.
With the outlook for 2016 remaining murky and the index recently touching a two-and-a-half-year low, defensive healthcare stocks could once again be set to perform well in 2016. In the the specific cases of CSL, Sirtex and Mayne, all three companies continue to expand their global footprints and enjoy growth opportunities in their respective businesses.
These growth profiles are at least in part thanks to research and development programs that have provided the firms with high-quality intellectual property (IP) assets to market, which stands CSL, Sirtex and Mayne in good stead to continue to have strong underlying business performance in 2016.
