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The Largest Healthcare Companies by Market Cap in May 2026
Eli Lilly (LLY -2.66%) is the most valuable healthcare company, with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ -0.54%) and AbbVie (ABBV -0.57%) rounding out the top three. Pharmaceutical companies dominate this market sector, comprising half of the largest healthcare companies by market cap. Let’s take a look at the companies that could be a financial cure-all for investors and their portfolios.
Image source: Getty Images.
Largest companies by market cap in the healthcare sector
(Editor’s note: Rankings are as of May 1, 2026.)
Data as of May 11, 2026. Showing 10 of 10 tickers.
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NYSE: LLY
Eli Lilly
Today’s Change
(-2.66%) $-25.95
Current Price
$949.01
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$893B
Day’s Range
$947.76 - $980.00
52wk Range
$623.78 - $1133.95
Volume
173
Avg Vol
3.1M
Gross Margin
82.83%
Dividend Yield
0.66%
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is the world’s most valuable drug company. A chemist and veteran of the Union Army founded the company in 1876, and it later became the first to mass-produce insulin and the polio vaccine.
Some of its top products are diabetes medications, weight loss drugs, obesity treatments, and antidepressants such as Prozac. In April 2026, the FDA approved Foundayo, Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 weight loss pill.
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NYSE: JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Today’s Change
(-0.54%) $-1.20
Current Price
$221.31
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$533B
Day’s Range
$220.93 - $223.36
52wk Range
$146.12 - $251.71
Volume
155K
Avg Vol
8.1M
Gross Margin
67.96%
Dividend Yield
2.35%
Johnson & Johnson is one of the leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Its two primary business segments are Innovative Medicine, which develops and markets prescription drugs, and MedTech, which manufactures medical devices, including Acuvue contact lenses.
Johnson & Johnson also used to have a robust consumer healthcare division that produced Tylenol and many other household names. It spun off that division into a new business in 2023.
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NYSE: ABBV
AbbVie
Today’s Change
(-0.57%) $-1.16
Current Price
$201.55
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$356B
Day’s Range
$200.02 - $202.40
52wk Range
$176.57 - $244.81
Volume
1.5K
Avg Vol
6.9M
Gross Margin
70.58%
Dividend Yield
3.34%
AbbVie is a biotechnology company that develops treatments for serious diseases. It has produced therapies for illnesses, including autoimmune diseases, plaque psoriasis, blood cancers, and advanced Parkinson’s disease. It also acquired Capstan Therapeutics, a cell and gene therapy company, for $2.1 billion in mid-2025.
AbbVie is a relatively new company that was spun off from Abbott Laboratories (ABT -3.14%). It’s now one of the better dividend stocks in the healthcare sector. It has regularly raised its dividend payout, resulting in a high dividend yield.
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NYSE: UNH
UnitedHealth Group
Today’s Change
(2.77%) $10.24
Current Price
$379.98
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$345B
Day’s Range
$371.99 - $379.98
52wk Range
$234.60 - $387.21
Volume
14K
Avg Vol
8.5M
Dividend Yield
2.33%
UnitedHealth Group (UNH +2.67%) provides health insurance and healthcare services. It sells health insurance products through its UnitedHealthcare division and offers healthcare services through its Optum division.
Although UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest healthcare companies, it has faced several high-profile issues. A subsidiary, Change Healthcare, was responsible for the largest reported healthcare data breach in history in 2024. CEO Andrew Witty abruptly resigned in May 2025 for personal reasons, and the company also replaced its CFO in July 2025.
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NASDAQ: AZN
AstraZeneca Plc
Today’s Change
(0.00%) $0.00
Current Price
$0.00
Key Data Points
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) is a multinational biotech company formed through the 1999 merger of Astra, a Swiss company, and Zeneca, a British company. Its headquarters are in Cambridge, U.K.
This company manufactures prescription medications for many major diseases, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, renal disease, and rare diseases. It has 11 research and development (R&D) centers, 28 manufacturing sites, and a market presence in more than 130 countries.
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NYSE: NVS
Novartis
Today’s Change
(0.44%) $0.64
Current Price
$146.03
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$267B
Day’s Range
$145.48 - $146.67
52wk Range
$104.93 - $170.46
Volume
224
Avg Vol
2.1M
Gross Margin
74.58%
Dividend Yield
3.25%
Novartis (NVS +0.44%) is a Swiss pharmaceutical company. It manufactures prescription drugs for various diseases. Some of its bestselling products include Entresto, a medication used to treat heart failure; Cosentyx, a psoriasis treatment; and Kesimpta, a treatment for certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
This Swiss company is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technology into its business. Novartis has partnered with Viz.ai to provide AI-powered care for cancer patients. It also acquired Avidity Biosciences in a $12 billion deal to improve its late-stage neuroscience pipeline.
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NYSE: MRK
Merck
Today’s Change
(-0.87%) $-0.98
Current Price
$111.32
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$275B
Day’s Range
$111.19 - $113.02
52wk Range
$73.31 - $125.14
Volume
250
Avg Vol
9.9M
Gross Margin
73.44%
Dividend Yield
2.98%
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NASDAQ: AMGN
Amgen
Today’s Change
(0.79%) $2.61
Current Price
$331.70
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$179B
Day’s Range
$328.00 - $332.33
52wk Range
$261.43 - $391.29
Volume
773
Avg Vol
2.7M
Gross Margin
71.51%
Dividend Yield
2.91%
Amgen (AMGN +0.79%) is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company with a presence in about 100 countries. It focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and on conditions with limited treatment options. The company develops treatments in the following therapeutic areas: general medicine, rare disease, inflammation, and oncology.
Some of Amgen’s best-selling products include Enbrel, an anti-inflammatory medicine; Prolia, an osteoporosis treatment in women after menopause; and Otezla, a medicine for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
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NYSE: TMO
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Today’s Change
(-1.99%) $-9.46
Current Price
$465.00
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$173B
Day’s Range
$456.36 - $473.49
52wk Range
$385.46 - $643.99
Volume
260
Avg Vol
2.2M
Gross Margin
40.13%
Dividend Yield
0.38%
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NASDAQ: GILD
Gilead Sciences
Today’s Change
(-2.13%) $-2.85
Current Price
$131.21
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$163B
Day’s Range
$128.98 - $133.33
52wk Range
$96.19 - $157.29
Volume
428K
Avg Vol
6.5M
Gross Margin
79.41%
Dividend Yield
2.43%
Gilead Sciences (GILD -2.13%) is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing innovative medicines for serious diseases. It offers treatments for a range of diseases, including HIV/AIDS, liver disease, and several types of cancer.
In April, Gilead completed the acquisition of Arcellx for approximately $7.8 billion. The companies had previously collaborated on a T-cell therapy for multiply myeloma. The deal gives Gilead full control of the treatment.
Drug makers and diversified giants split the top of healthcare
Many of the biggest healthcare companies are in the pharmaceutical business, which brings some unique risks, but also the potential for outsize returns. The development of new products often requires a lengthy regulatory process. If a company’s product may have caused harm to a consumer, there’s the possibility of a lawsuit.
However, companies with successful and innovative treatments often grow quickly. Eli Lilly is a good example, as it has soared on the popularity of its weight-loss drugs.
Even with the risks, healthcare can be an attractive sector for investors. Some of the top healthcare companies pay high dividends, which is great for investors looking to build passive income. Healthcare stocks also tend to be resistant to market downturns. After all, no matter how the economy is doing, people always need healthcare.
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FAQ
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About the Author
Lyle Daly is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering information technology and cryptocurrency. Lyle has been a contributor at the financial services company since 2018. His work has been featured on USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Fox Business, and Nasdaq. Before joining The Motley Fool, he wrote for financial brands including Intuit.
TMFLyleDaly
X@LyleDaly
Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie, Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Kenvue, Merck, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson, Solventum, and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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