ASX 200 healthcare shares are considered great defensive shares in tough economic times. But that hasn’t proven true in 2022 — at least in terms of share price growth.

The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) is down 4.9% in the year to date. That’s worse than the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is down 3.8%.

Healthcare employs more people than any other industry in Australia, according to the new census. It’s an established sector, which means good earnings and reliable dividends for shareholders.

Healthcare is also an obvious defensive play, like consumer staples, when inflation and interest rates are rising. No matter what the economy is doing, people still need healthcare and essential goods and will prioritise them in their budgets. So that’s good for the earnings of ASX healthcare shares.

Healthcare also has a very big long-term tailwind with our ageing population — the older we get, the more healthcare we need. But for now, it’s a sector that hasn’t done much for investors in 2022.

Of course, there are always companies doing better than the bunch.

In November, these three ASX 200 healthcare shares stood out with the highest share price gains, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data canvassing ASX healthcare stocks with a minimum market cap of $100 million.

The figures are taken from the closing price on 1 November to the closing price on 30 November.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd (ASX: FPH)

The top-performing ASX 200 healthcare share in November was Fisher & Paykel with a 17.1% share price gain.

The stock gathered momentum for no particular reason in the middle of the month, then got a big bump when the company released its half-year results.

Bizarrely, it reported a 57% decline in profit but the share price soared 12% on the day of the release. As my colleague Brooke reported, the results were in line with previous forecasts, so perhaps investors were impressed to see the company simply deliver what it said it would in this current difficult economic climate.

The Fisher & Paykel share price closed at $22.84 on Friday, up 1.3%.

Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)

Ramsay Health Care was November’s next best-performing ASX 200 healthcare share, up 12.3%.

The hospitals operator provided a business update on 11 November and the share price kept rising from there. Ramsay reported a 6.7% increase in revenue and a 2.3% decline in EBITDA over 1Q FY23.

The Ramsay Health Care share price finished Friday’s session at $66.15, up 0.5% for the day.

Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)

The Nanosonics share price was the third-best performer among the ASX 200 healthcare shares last month. It went up 11%.

The infection control company held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 18 November. As my colleague James reported, Nanosonics revealed total revenue of $52.6 million for the four months to 31 October, up 42% on the prior corresponding period.

Nanosonics shares took a 12% smashing despite no news from the company on 21 November but rebounded to finish the month at $4.74. Perhaps that rebound resulted from some ASX investors seeing an opportunity to buy the dip.

The Nanosonics share price finished the week at $4.86, up 0.4% for the day on Friday.

The post 3 best-performing ASX 200 healthcare shares in November appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

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• Profit down 57%, share price up 12%. What’s with this ASX 200 healthcare stock today?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Nanosonics. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Nanosonics. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ramsay Health Care. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) broke its three-day winning streak on Friday. The index closed 0.72% lower at 7,301.5 points. That still marks a 0.66% week-on-week increase.

Weighing on the market today was the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ). It fell 2.4% despite a mixed night for oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price slipped 0.1% to trade at US$86.88 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude oil price rose 0.8% to US$81.22 a barrel.

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) also suffered on Friday, falling 2.6%.

On a more positive note, the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) posted a 1.1% gain while the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Index (ASX: XTJ) rose 0.8%.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) slipped 0.5% despite higher commodity prices.

Gold futures increased 3.1% to US$1,815.20 an ounce and iron ore futures lifted 1.2% to US$103.10 a tonne.

All in all, four of the ASX 200’s 11 sectors closed Friday’s session in the green. But which stock took out today’s crown, ending the week the highest? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The best-performing stock on the iconic index today was none other than gold favourite St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM). It soared 10% amid the yellow metal’s surge.

Today’s biggest gains were made by these shares:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)	$0.69	10.4%
Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)	$4.81	8.09%
Silver Lake Resources Limited (ASX: SLR)	$1.37	7.03%
Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)	$5.11	6.46%
Ramelius Resources Limited (ASX: RMS)	$0.99	4.76%
Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS)	$3.03	3.77%
Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)	$5.82	3.74%
Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU)	$2.33	3.1%
Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR)	$2.08	2.97%
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)	$3.64	2.54%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why Bigtincan, Bubs, St Barbara, and Warrego shares are charging higher
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Friday
• Wondering how the Coles share price fared over November? Here’s how
• 10 ASX dividend shares paying more than 10% yield right now
• Here are 10 years of ASX 200 historical returns

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Smartgroup. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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It has been another busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a large number of broker notes.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

According to a note out of UBS, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this pizza chain operator’s shares with a trimmed price target of $78.00. The broker has reduced its earnings per share estimates to reflect dilution from Domino’s capital raising. However, it remains bullish on the investment opportunity here and was pleased to see management reaffirm guidance for FY 2023. The Domino’s share price is trading at $66.04 on Friday.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $121.00 price target on this mining giant’s shares. This follows the release of the company’s investor day update. Morgan Stanley was pleased with the update and particularly the miner’s focus on technology. It also notes that the top end of Rio Tinto’s iron ore shipments guidance for FY 2023 was in line with its own estimate. The Rio Tinto share price is fetching $111.63 this afternoon.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Analysts at Goldman Sachs have retained their buy rating but trimmed their price target on this online furniture retailer’s shares to $7.50. While the broker has reduced its earnings estimates slightly following Temple & Webster’s trading update, it remains bullish. The broker believes that the company has one of the strongest long term structural growth opportunities under coverage and forecasts a 22% EBITDA CAGR over the next 10 years. The Temple & Webster share price is trading at $5.02 on Friday.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why Coronado, IDP, Mayne Pharma, and Rio Tinto shares are dropping today
• Rebound: I’m finding cheap ASX shares to buy before it’s too late!
• Why Appen, Evolution Mining, Rio Tinto, and Xero shares are racing higher
• Why CogState, Downer, Temple & Webster, and Woodside shares are dropping
• Domino’s share price halted amid $165 million cap raise

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week in the red. In late trade, the benchmark index is down 0.65% to 7,306.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here’s why they are charging higher:

Bigtincan Holdings Ltd (ASX: BTH)

The Bigtincan share price is up 12% to 76.5 cents. Investors have been buying this sales enablement automation platform provider’s shares after it received a takeover approach. Bigtincan has received an unsolicited, indicative, conditional and non-binding proposal from SQN Investors to acquire it for $0.80 cash per share. This represents a 17.6% premium to the where the tech share ended yesterday’s session.

Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

The Bubs share price is up 3% to 32 cents. This is despite the infant formula company’s shares copping a downgrade from Citi this morning. The broker has downgraded Bubs’ shares to a hold rating and slashed their price target by over 50% to 32 cents. Citi suspects that the company’s US sales are softer than expected.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is up almost 11% to 69.2 cents. This follows a strong rise by the gold price last night. Investors appear to be betting that interest rates won’t rise as much as feared, which would be good news for gold. St Barbara isn’t the only gold miner rising today. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is up 2.3% this afternoon.

Warrego Energy Ltd (ASX: WGO)

The Warrego Energy share price is up almost 10% to 28.5 cents. Investors have been buying this energy explorer’s shares this week after a bidding war broke out for it. Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) has outbid Hancock Energy’s 23 cents per share offer with a bid of 25 cents per share plus any net proceeds received from the sale of Warrego’s Spanish assets.

The post Why Bigtincan, Bubs, St Barbara, and Warrego shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 3 ASX shares soaring on takeover bids today
• Guess which ASX All Ords tech share is soaring 12% on takeover news
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Warrego Energy share price rockets 80% in a month amid clash of the takeover titans
• Why Bubs, Collins Foods, Dusk, and Mayne Pharma shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Bigtincan. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bigtincan. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Bubs Australia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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