Analyst Rankings: Baxter, Abbott Among Faves in Health Care Equipment

While pharmaceutical stocks tend to move as a group, individual performance is the name of the game in health care equipment and supplies. Still, the majority of the 16 or so equipment and supply stocks covered by Wall Street's big shops did one thing in sync recently: They beat the S&P 500, and handily, through the end of July. Experts agree that the good news will continue well into 2001.

But investors who are considering playing this sector, either with slower-moving hospital-supply stocks or with racier medical-device names, need to act fast. Stocks in this group don't hesitate. ...