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A New Global Healthcare Composite Index

The accompanying table [click to enlarge or download] presents the top five rated companies with market caps of at least $250M from each of the 10 new healthcare indexes developed by ETF Innovators [ETFI] from a database of about 500 companies worldwide. The ETFI Global Healthcare Sector PerformIdex consists of 50 top rated companies on an equal weight basis from each of the 10 new healthcare indexes as an alternative strategy to existing health composite ETFs with highly correlated returns and over-weight exposure to th

Hospitals Hoping for Increased Insurance Coverage

The combination of a bad economy and rising unemployment is contributing to unpaid bills and operating losses at U.S hospital companies such as Tenet Healthcare (THC), which missed analyst estimates last week by 3-cents with an adjusted 6-cent per share loss and lowered its full-year and 2009 guidance for EBITDA. Tenet's allowance for doubtful accounts increased 5.8% to $163M at hospitals run by the Company for over a year.

With Tenet trading all-time lows, several insiders were buying a combined 160

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My latest column is up at RealMoney.

DaVita (DVA) is a leading provider of dialysis services in the U.S. for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD. As of Dec. 31, 2007, the company operated or provided administrative services to 1,359 outpatient dialysis centers serving about 107,000 patients.

The total ESRD market is estimated at 340,000 patients and is growing 3% to 4% annually. DaVita and its largest competitor, Fresnius Medical Care (FMS) , together control 65% of the dialysis market.

Over the last 12 months, DaVita’s free cash

DaVita, Inc. provides dialysis services in the United States for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, which is also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD). The company operates kidney dialysis centers, and provides related medical services primarily in dialysis centers and in contracted hospitals. Its services include outpatient dialysis services; hospital inpatient dialysis services; and ancillary services, such as ESRD laboratory services, vascular access services, and disease management services. In addition, the company conducts research trials of new pharmaceuticals and med