Technology advancements driving opportunities in health care

Technology in health care has historically driven a broad range of innovation, from the doctor’s office to the operating room, to the pharmacy. The role of technology in health care is often underappreciated. Many investors think of the large information technology giants when they consider the role technology plays in their lives, but technology’s reach is broader and is shaping the future of every industry. We believe numerous technology applications will shape the health care industry and impact people’s health care experiences. 

These broad technology applications can provide a range of growth opportunities while, at the same time, offering relatively more resilient performance. Technological innovation combined with secular forces such as demographics-driven demand can enable stable earnings growth through a range of economic environments.  Despite their role in improving the quality and duration of life, these technologies often don’t enjoy the spotlight or generate the excitement of more consumer-facing applications.  These “under the radar technology” companies can provide opportunities for investing in life-changing innovation as well as stable growth and better downside protection, often at more attractive valuations than some widely discussed innovation leaders. 

One example of how innovation is overlooked can be seen in something as simple as a syringe, where the development of safety technology to protect health care workers against exposure to blood-borne pathogens and drugs through accidental needle pricks has provided significant benefits. This technology has proven so successful that safety syringes have become the standard of care across multiple countries, and such regulatory mandates enable resilient revenue streams. Packaging is a similarly unappreciated application of technology in the health care field. While new biopharmaceutical molecules often garner all the attention, drug packaging requires innovative materials technology. High-value molecules increasingly require specialized packaging to prevent contamination and minimize wastage.

While the technology behind safety syringes and packaging solutions may not seem particularly exciting, both products are inexpensive yet critical components of their value chains. They also drive strong pricing power, have regulatory tailwinds enabling durable revenue streams, and benefit regardless of which biopharmaceutical molecule ultimately wins share. We expect these technologies to be increasingly valuable in the fast-growing category of injectable weight-loss drugs as this develops in the future.

Innovation is quickly reshaping operating rooms as well. In recent years, surgical robotic systems have served as an extension of a surgeon’s hands and eyes, effectively reducing variation in surgical outcomes, and enabling more procedures to be done with fewer complications. In soft-tissue surgeries, robots enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed with greater precision and accuracy. Orthopedic robotic platforms are expanding beyond their initial focus on hip and knee implants to include shoulder and spinal surgeries. And for the detection of cancer, robots that resemble long, retractable tubes are being used to reach deep into the lungs. 

Data analytics are increasingly being integrated into these technologies, with examples including video and image capture which can be used for training, review and planning. “Smart” orthopedic implants with embedded processors, which collect and transmit real time surgical data, are being used to improve surgical outcomes, thereby reducing the need for additional surgeries. And while much of the world is starting to learn the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, many companies in this space have experience implementing AI technologies to enable predictive and decision-making applications. Uses include the early detection of disease, projection of disease development and suggested patient management.  The integration of AI, data analytics and robotics can result in powerful outcomes. As an example, an AI-enabled platform for the real-time monitoring of surgical blood loss, as captured in sponges, is improving maternal mortality rates in labor and delivery rooms. AI has also been incorporated into shoulder replacement surgeries, where it is used to recommend specific implants.

Information systems are increasingly vital for connecting laboratories and pharmacies to doctors’ offices and hospitals to ensure the seamless integration of data and workflows, enabling faster and smarter communication and decision-making. These platforms have become critical elements of workflow and the move to software-as-a-service business models means that the revenues from these industry-specific platforms are likely to be more stable throughout the economic cycle.

Within a pharmacy, the automation of pill counting and packaging allows pharmacists to focus on higher-value-added tasks and results in fewer errors in dispensing medication. These technology applications are driving cost efficiencies across the system, allowing the industry to expand into new areas, such as long-term care.

Health care, the second largest sector exposure in the S&P 500 Index today, contains market leaders shaping the future  through innovative products, technologies and systems. The sector encompasses investments in companies developing leading technologies for surgical robotics, novel packaging solutions, drug dispensing and numerous other areas. Companies designing health plans to improve access and care are using these innovative advances to drive efficiency and bend the cost curve, in an effort to advance quality of care and longevity of life. We remain excited by the innovation-driven change technology continues to bring to the sector.   

Innovations in health care make the sector a natural fit for dividend growth investors

Market-leading companies in the health care sector can deliver sustainable, profitable growth as well as robust free cash flow to sustain innovation investment going forward. This powerful dynamic can lead to consistent and substantial dividend growth over time, contributing to strong total performance. A company’s sustainable and substantial dividend growth can be viewed as confirmation of a high-quality, resilient business model capable of growing steadily through the business cycle.  We believe health care’s innovation-driven growth and inherent resilience makes it a natural fit for dividend growth investors. In our view, health care remains an attractive area as new opportunities arise where elements like artificial intelligence, already an important part of many of these existing technologies, evolve and grow in importance. Health care-focused technology will continue to be an important source for innovation-fueled growth, with a bias toward resilient business models that we believe dividend growth investors should find appealing.