some undertheradar healthcare stocks are unlikely attractive picks according to renaissance macro research chairman jeff degraaf the technical analyst who studies charts to make buying and selling decisions said on cnbcs squawk on the street on monday that while the overall sector isnt fairing as well as hed like theres still value in names apart from the top line pharmaceuticals whats happening today though is its not pharma thats really driving it which would really sortof be exhibit a from a defensive standpoint its the healthcare equipment names degraaf said from a cyclical standpoint even within the healthcare sector theyre starting to break out degraaf listed stryker  bruker and boston scientific as good looking longterm charts thanks to both their discretionary spend and chart cyclicality within the healthcare space he added that these stocks have turned the corner over the past 18 months despite broader macroeconomic headwinds brkr ytd mountain healthcare equipment stocks are some of the most attractive picks in the overall sector according to renaissance macro research chief jeff degraaf so far this year all three stocks have climbed considerably with bruker and stryker adding 15 and 175 respectively boston scientific meanwhile has climbed 83 from the beginning of 2023 syk ytd mountain stryker is leading the pack of out jeff degraafs picks with a gain of roughly 175 so far this year healthcare stocks are often touted as defensive investments during economic turmoil and recessions thanks to their predictable earnings and steady consumer growth degraaf is in the institutional investor magazine hall of fame for chart analysis