For stock investors, it’s worth hunting for bargains in any sector. Healthcare certainly qualifies these days. of S&P Composite 1500 Healthcare Over the past year, the index has only risen slightly compared to nearly 12% growth in the broader multisector S&P500 index.
There are many discount healthcare stocks with potential. Let’s take a look at a pair that some analysts believe has the potential to rise at least 60% over the next year. Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +8.82%) and HCA Healthcare (HCA +1.16%).
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1.Viking Therapeutics
In recent years, Viking has become a well-known company in the biotech space as a developer of the next generation of obesity drugs. With Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, novo nordiskWegovy in 2021, medicines aimed at weight loss are all the rage (especially in the US, where obesity rates are relatively high).
What makes Viking stand out among the growing number of weight-loss drug developers is that its leading candidate, VK2735, is in late-stage development. The company recently announced that it had completed enrollment in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for the drug. The reading is scheduled for next year. The company is also working on an oral version of VK2735, which is expected to begin Phase 3 trials in the third quarter of this year.
Previous clinical trials have shown that this drug may help you lose weight faster than Wegovy and the current No. 1 treatment for obesity. Eli LillyZep bound. It’s this combination of late-stage development, apparent potential, and commercial potential that has both investors and analysts bullish on Viking.
Some experts feel that the company’s stock price could jump several times over (this is not unusual, especially if the biotech receives FDA approval for the first time). edward nash Canaccord Genuity We have a price target of $107 per share, and believe it has the potential to more than triple. BTIG’s Jeet Mukherjee is even more optimistic, with a price target of $125.
Investing in clinical-stage biotechs is always risky, as pipeline programs are usually a make-or-break situation. However, this is a standout showing the very promising lab performance of VK2735. Therefore, I believe Viking Therapeutics has an above-average chance of regulatory and possibly commercial success with this therapy.
Today’s changes
(8.82%) $2.64
current price
$32.56
Key data points
Market capitalization
$3.8 billion
daily range
$30.49 – $33.28
52 week range
$18.92 – $43.15
average volume
3M
2.HCA Healthcare
HCA is the number one health system operator in the United States, owning and managing 186 hospitals and approximately 2,400 outpatient service facilities in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
The increase in patient volume had a positive impact on fundamentals, with same-facility admissions increasing 2.4% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025 and overall revenue increasing nearly 7% to $19.5 billion. Annual sales could expand by up to 6% this year, according to management guidance.
The main driver of this is significant demographic change over time. The U.S. population is aging proportionately, with 55.8 million people (17% of the population) aged 65 and older according to the 2020 Census. Both numbers were the highest in survey history. Many believe both will continue to rise. A recent demographic report by Claritas estimates that 71.6 million people will fall into this age group in 2030, representing 20.7% of the population.
Of course, older adults require more medical care, and HCA is a leading provider of facilities where that care is provided, so this inherent trend alone should benefit them. A proactive approach from management also helps. Most recently, the Timpani platform, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has been leveraged to improve nurse staffing, which is currently a bottleneck in the U.S. healthcare system.
While some market experts may disagree, TIKR, for example, has a price target of $882 per share, I highly doubt the stock will rise 60% next year. To me, HCA is attractive as a stock, but it’s more of a long-term buy-and-hold strategy.
Today’s changes
(1.16%) $5.41
current price
$473.24
Key data points
Market capitalization
$106 billion
daily range
$461.88 – $474.71
52 week range
$314.43 – $556.52
volume
1
average volume
1.1M
gross profit
15.83%
dividend yield
0.62%
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