Jan. 2 at 8:54 PM
Several healthcare and banking stocks delivered exceptional gains in 2025, and analysts see reasons for the momentum to continue this year. CVS Health was a standout, surging 58%—its best performance since 1982—after consistently beating earnings expectations and exiting lower-margin, higher-risk insurance lines. The company now forecasts solid long-term earnings growth, reinforcing confidence in its turnaround.
Other healthcare winners included AstraZeneca and Cardinal Health, which rose about 40% and 74%, respectively, marking their strongest years in decades. AstraZeneca benefited from record highs and policy-driven pricing agreements, while Cardinal Health gained from a successful turnaround in its medical products division and strategic acquisitions.
Banks also posted strong results. BNY, Citigroup, and Northern Trust saw gains of roughly 51%, 66%, and 33% in 2025, supported by better-than-expected earnings, an improving macro backdrop, and Federal Reserve rate cuts
$CVS $AZN $CAH