By Teresa Rivas
Health is wealth goes the saying. Now it's an investment opportunity, too.
The consumerization of healthcare is nothing new, but the pandemic turbocharged its widespread adoption. From telehealth appointments to digital patient portals and wearable trackers, many people began to treat their health like any other retail experience -- whether it's walking into a CVS Health MinuteClinic after doing some shopping, or trying (with varying success) to estimate the out-of-pocket price for procedures with cost-estimator tools.
The upshot is that longevity, i.e. not only living longer but being healthy for longer, could be big business for healthcare companies. TD Cowen analysts estimate that the total addressable market for longevity healthcare exceeds $250 billion, with beneficiaries spanning companies making biological breakthroughs to those using artificial intelligence.
"Tools to measure and screen health status--across blood-based testing, imaging, and wearable--have advanced meaningfully," writes lead analyst Dan Brennan. "At the same time, new powerful consumer channels have emerged, and regulators are becoming aligned around products that not only extend lifespan, but health span."
Not surprisingly, Brennan says wealthy consumers will be the main driver of this trend. They have the ability to pay for services like direct-to-consumer diagnostics and screening, preventative care, concierge medicine, and nutritional products and supplements. Many of these products and services don't have the burden of Food and Drug Administration scrutiny, and can sometimes be funded through healthcare savings accounts.
There is plenty of space for the longevity market to grow too, with increasing access to newer products like peptides and GLP-1s, even if some new categories do require government approval for widespread use.
As for specific stocks, the analysts highlight Grail, Guardant Health, Caris Life Sciences, Natera, and Abbott Laboratories as those benefitting from the early cancer-detection market. Alamar Biosciences and Quanterix Corporation offer blood-based neurological screening, and Tempus AI and Myriad Genetics offer germline testing, which can identify DNA mutations.
Consumer-focused continuous glucose monitoring from DexCom makes the stock a potential winner, TD Cowen says. The analysts also like Butterfly Network's handheld ultrasound technology; Teledoc Health is their telehealth pick.
In the more explicitly consumer-focused category, they highlight Biote's for its women's hormone therapy, Hims & Hers Health for its digital platform, and Owlet for its wearable tech. Cava Group's better-for-you style of restaurant fits the theme as well, as does Planet Fitness for its value-focused gyms.
The fountain of youth may still be little more than a pipedream, but investors looking to benefit from the longevity craze have plenty of options to get their feet wet.
Write to Teresa Rivas at teresa.rivas@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
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June 18, 2026 14:15 ET (18:15 GMT)
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