5 Stocks Pushing The Health Care Sector Higher

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) steady at 13,953 as of Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, 11:50 AM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,129 issues advancing vs. 1,699 declining with 163 unchanged.

The Health Care sector currently sits down 0.3% versus the S&P 500, which is down 0.0%. Top gainers within the sector include Isis Pharmaceuticals (ISIS), up 12.2%, HCA Holdings (HCA), up 2.2%, Sanofi (SNY), up 1.0%, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO), up 0.7% and Biogen Idec (BIIB), up 0.6%. On the negative front, top decliners within the sector include Herbalife (HLF), down 6.8%, Haemonetics Corporation (HAE), down 6.4%, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), down 3.8%, St Jude Medical (STJ), down 1.4% and Aetna (AET), down 1.3%.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector higher today:

5. Boston Scientific (BSX) is one of the companies pushing the Health Care sector higher today. As of noon trading, Boston Scientific is up $0.25 (3.5%) to $7.35 on heavy volume Thus far, 20.6 million shares of Boston Scientific exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 16.3 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $7.10-$7.38 after having opened the day at $7.14 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $7.10.

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices used in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. Boston Scientific has a market cap of $9.4 billion and is part of the health services industry. Shares are up 19.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 7 analysts that rate Boston Scientific a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 15 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Boston Scientific as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and weak operating cash flow. Get the full Boston Scientific Ratings Report now.

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4. As of noon trading, Life Technologies (LIFE) is up $2.91 (4.7%) to $65.22 on heavy volume Thus far, 1.5 million shares of Life Technologies exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $62.73-$65.84 after having opened the day at $63.00 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $62.31.

Life Technologies Corporation operates as a global life sciences company. Life Technologies has a market cap of $10.8 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 27.3, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 27.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 7 analysts that rate Life Technologies a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 9 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Life Technologies as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, good cash flow from operations, expanding profit margins, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Life Technologies Ratings Report now.

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3. As of noon trading, Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) is up $1.07 (1.5%) to $71.49 on average volume Thus far, 1.2 million shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.8 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $70.42-$71.58 after having opened the day at $70.48 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $70.42.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. provides analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for research, manufacture, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics. Thermo Fisher Scientific has a market cap of $25.5 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.6, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 10.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 14 analysts that rate Thermo Fisher Scientific a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Thermo Fisher Scientific as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth and attractive valuation levels. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. Get the full Thermo Fisher Scientific Ratings Report now.

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2. As of noon trading, Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) is up $1.35 (1.4%) to $96.35 on average volume Thus far, 555,916 shares of Alexion Pharmaceuticals exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.4 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $94.71-$96.98 after having opened the day at $94.76 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $95.00.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of biologic therapeutic products in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Alexion Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $18.4 billion and is part of the drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 83.6, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 0.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 15 analysts that rate Alexion Pharmaceuticals a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Alexion Pharmaceuticals as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and impressive record of earnings per share growth. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. Get the full Alexion Pharmaceuticals Ratings Report now.

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1. As of noon trading, Baxter International (BAX) is up $0.45 (0.7%) to $67.80 on light volume Thus far, 609,839 shares of Baxter International exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.1 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $67.28-$67.85 after having opened the day at $67.47 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $67.35.

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. Baxter International has a market cap of $37.0 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Baxter International a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 6 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Baxter International as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, revenue growth and good cash flow from operations. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. Get the full Baxter International Ratings Report now.

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If you are interested in one of these 5 stocks, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

A reminder about TheStreet Ratings group: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

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