Most major healthcare stocks see fall in Q1
Eleven out of 14 major listed healthcare groups saw their share values decrease in the first quarter of 2022, in spite of (or perhaps in some cases because of) Covid restrictions being lifted in multiple countries.
Only Thai hospital group Bumrungrad and South African Hospital group Mediclinic saw increases, both are up 12% since the start of 2022.
Most other groups saw single digit falls. But Sonic, Medicover, Korian and Orpea, all saw significant double digit decreases. Orpea, unsurprisingly, is the worst hit of all, down 57% since the start of the year. Orpea and Korian, as well as other listed elderly care groups, have suffered after the publication of allegations of malpractice at Orpea were published in the French media in February.
Lab group Sonic, which is down 22%, saw revenue and profits soar during the Covid pandemic, thanks to widespread mandatory Covid testing, which is now drawing to a close in many countries.
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