Healthcare and Energy Sectors Underperforming
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy PODD?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Healthcare Sector Struggles: As of midday Friday, healthcare stocks are underperforming, with Insulet Corp (PODD) and Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) down 3.1% and 2.8%, respectively, indicating a weak trend that may affect investor confidence in the sector.
- ETF Performance Insight: The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), which tracks the healthcare sector, is down 0.3% on the day but up 1.28% year-to-date, highlighting a contradiction between short-term volatility and long-term growth that could influence investor asset allocation decisions.
- Energy Sector Also Weak: The energy sector is similarly not showing significant gains, with Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) and Coterra Energy Inc (CTRA) down 2.5% and 2.0%, respectively, reflecting market caution towards energy stocks that may impact future investment inflows.
- ETF Comparison: The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE), closely tracking energy stocks, is down 0.6% on the day but up 22.65% year-to-date, indicating that despite short-term fluctuations, the long-term trend remains positive, potentially attracting the attention of long-term investors.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy PODD?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on PODD
Wall Street analysts forecast PODD stock price to rise
19 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 207.040
Low
316.00
Averages
375.83
High
450.00
Current: 207.040
Low
316.00
Averages
375.83
High
450.00
About PODD
Insulet Corporation is a medical device company. It is primarily engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of its continuous insulin delivery systems for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Omnipod System includes the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System (Omnipod 5), the Omnipod DASH Insulin Management System, and the Omnipod Insulin Management System. The Omnipod platform offers continuous insulin delivery that provides various benefits of insulin pump therapy in a way without the need for external tubing required with conventional pumps. The small, lightweight, self-adhesive disposable tubeless Omnipod device (Pod), can be worn in multiple locations, including the abdomen, hip, back of upper arm, upper thigh, or lower back, and delivers insulin into the body through a small flexible tube. It also produces pods for Amgen for use in the Neulasta Onpro kit, a delivery system for Amgen’s Neulasta to help reduce the risk of infection after intense chemotherapy.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Investor Confidence Boost: Zacks Premium offers daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, enabling investors to make more informed decisions, thereby enhancing confidence and optimizing their portfolios.
- Style Scoring System: The Zacks Style Scores evaluate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, helping investors identify stocks with the potential to outperform the market over the next 30 days, thus enhancing the effectiveness of investment strategies.
- Strong Earnings Outlook: Insulet Corporation (PODD) holds a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting a year-over-year earnings growth of 23.9% for the current fiscal year, with analysts revising their earnings estimates higher in the last 60 days, indicating strong market confidence.
- Curated Stock Recommendations: Zacks experts have selected 5 potential stocks, including one targeting millennial and Gen Z audiences, which generated nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter, with the current pullback providing an ideal entry point for investors.
See More
- Stock Volatility: Insulet Corp. shares fell approximately 6.9% following the March 12, 2026, 8-K filing that disclosed a design defect in the Omnipod 5 insulin pods, reflecting investor concerns over the company's transparency and product safety.
- Defect Impact: The voluntary medical device correction affects about 1.5% of annual production, with the defect potentially causing insulin leakage that could lead to hospitalization and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), highlighting significant market risks associated with the product.
- Serious Adverse Events: The report referenced eighteen serious adverse events linked to the defect, which were cataloged by the FDA's medical device correction database, indicating the regulatory body's heightened scrutiny of the issue.
- Management Accountability Investigation: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating whether Insulet and certain executives were aware of the defect during the February 18, 2026, earnings call, where the CEO described Omnipod as demonstrating “reliability and consistency,” contrasting sharply with the subsequent disclosures.
See More
- Executive Appointment: Insulet Corporation has appointed Mike Panos as Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing the global commercial organization and reporting directly to CEO Ashley McEvoy, aiming to enhance the company's commercial capabilities to seize market growth opportunities.
- Extensive Experience: Panos brings 30 years of commercial leadership experience in the medical technology sector, having held multiple senior roles at Stryker, where he successfully drove market expansion and sustained double-digit growth, which is expected to contribute strategically to Insulet's growth.
- Market Opportunity: Insulet is positioned for significant growth driven by strong clinical outcomes and customer-centric innovation, and Panos's leadership is anticipated to accelerate the adoption of automated insulin delivery globally, enhancing the company's market share in diabetes management.
- Strategic Execution: Panos will be responsible for driving commercial strategy and execution, expanding market access, and supporting growth into new patient populations, further solidifying Insulet's leadership position in the global diabetes management market.
See More
- Stock Performance Comparison: DHR is currently trading up approximately 0.4%, while PODD is up about 1.6%, indicating differing market performances that could influence investor choices and market confidence.
- Market Dynamics Analysis: The midday trading on Thursday shows contrasting price movements for DHR and PODD, which may reflect varying investor perceptions tied to each company's business performance and market expectations.
- Investor Focus: The price changes of DHR and PODD could significantly impact investor decisions, especially in the context of increasing competition within the medical device sector, prompting investors to closely monitor upcoming financial reports and market trends.
- Industry Trend Impact: As the medical device industry continues to evolve, the stock fluctuations of DHR and PODD may be influenced by industry trends and technological innovations, necessitating that investors consider these factors for informed investment decisions.
See More
- Stock Decline: Insulet Corp. shares fell approximately 6.9% following the March 12, 2026, 8-K filing that disclosed a design defect in the Omnipod 5 insulin pods, indicating investor concerns over the company's transparency.
- Defect Impact: The voluntary medical device correction affects about 1.5% of annual production, with the defect potentially causing insulin leakage that could lead to hospitalization and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), posing a serious health risk to patients.
- Serious Adverse Events: The defect is linked to eighteen serious adverse events, and the FDA's medical device correction database has cataloged this action, highlighting the severity of the issue and its potential impact on the company's reputation.
- Management Accountability Investigation: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating whether Insulet and its executives were aware of the defect during the February 18, 2026, earnings call, where the CEO described Omnipod as demonstrating “reliability and consistency,” contrasting sharply with the subsequent disclosure.
See More
- CEO Confidence and Recall: On February 18, 2026, Insulet CEO Ashley McEvoy described Omnipod 5 as 'reliable' and a 'favorite pump,' but just two weeks later, the company announced a voluntary recall of thousands of units due to insulin leakage defects, resulting in a 6.9% drop in stock price.
- Financial Performance and Market Demand: During the same earnings call, McEvoy highlighted strong demand for Omnipod 5 among type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients, which drove U.S. revenue growth above expectations, yet failed to mention any product quality issues, indicating a significant lapse in information disclosure.
- Medical Risks and Compliance Issues: The recall notice revealed that insulin leakage could lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious medical emergency, underscoring potential risks to Insulet's product safety and possibly affecting future market trust.
- Shareholder Rights and Legal Action: Following the stock price decline, Insulet shareholders are encouraged to submit information to discuss their legal rights, reflecting strong investor concern regarding the management's transparency and accountability regarding product quality issues.
See More











