Healthcare stocks rise as AI sector cools, with healthcare ETF up 2.7% while S&P 500 stays flat.

Healthcare stocks gained attention this week as investors shifted away from the overheated AI sector. The State Street healthcare Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 2.7% on Thursday, outperforming the nearly flat S&P 500. This shift highlights healthcare as a safer or more stable investment option when enthusiasm for AI stocks wanes. The trend suggests investors may continue to favor healthcare stocks during periods of volatility in tech sectors like AI.

Healthcare stocks like XLV are currently popular on Pluang, with XLV priced at USD 177.94 and up 2.31% as of Oct 16, 2026, 01:31 WIB. The fund shows strong buying interest, with 67% of orders as buys. Typical holding time for XLV investors on Pluang is about 100 days, indicating a medium-term investment horizon.