Cathie Wood invests in disruptive technology that could transform how things are done. She's a successful stock picker who buys new firms with a vision and the technology to succeed. Ark Invest's CEO often buys underperforming firm shares because she's confident in its long-term potential.
Wood bought shares of two healthcare stocks this week to add to existing positions. Telemedicine leader Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC) and gene editing business Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA). Although both stocks have lost double-digits in the previous year, Wood still sees a bright future for them. Her flagship fund Ark Innovation and healthcare fund Ark Genomic Revolution include them among their top 20 holdings.
Teladoc Health Teladoc shares have fallen 42% in a year and 90% since its 2021 peak. Despite having 90 million users, the telemedicine company has unable to turn revenue growth into profit.
However, full-year adjusted EBITDA rose 33% to more than $328 million last year, indicating progress toward its objective. It was the company's most lucrative year. Teladoc also has a growing chronic-care company. This is important because half of Americans have a chronic ailment.
Chronic-care members rose 14% year over year in the latest quarter, and the company forecasts mid- to high-single-digit revenue growth in the following years. However, Teladoc's low- to mid-single-digit three-year annual sales growth forecast surprised investors who had grown acclimated to Teladoc's rapid development during the pandemic.
A new turning point may be coming. Teladoc CEO Jason Gorevic resigned last week, and CFO Mala Murthy will temporarily replace him. If Murthy or a new CEO helps the company reach profitability goals, the shares, trading at their lowest ever in relation to sales, might soar.
Intellia Therapeutics Intellia is developing interesting CRISPR gene editing possibilities. Cutting DNA at a specific spot allows a repair mechanism to fix disease-causing genes. The company is close to releasing products. Key research are its gene editing candidates for transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR) and hereditary angioedema (HAE). Intellia wants to finish these investigations in three years and submit for HAE candidate regulatory clearance in 2026.
Since these two diseases have few treatments, Intellia's candidates may draw doctors and patients if they finish. ATTR affects multiple organs due to misfolded protein buildup, while HAE produces unpredictable and severe edema. Intellia plans to offer additional programs and editing and distribution technologies in the next three years. Many catalysts await this brilliant enterprise.
Today is a perfect day to conclude gene editing. Regulations authorized CRISPR Therapeutics' blood disorders medicine Casgevy, the first CRISPR-based medication, indicating they're ready to approve the technique provided data confirms safety and efficacy. Intellia and its investors should be pleased as it advances its late-stage candidates toward commercialization and revenue.
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