On April 16, United Healthcare (UNH) reported earnings that spooked some investors as its share priced plunged as much as 7% at one point. That decline added to several months of weakness that resulted in the company's stock price falling more than 20% from its all-time high. Let's take a look at why the market is fearful of UnitedHealth and many other parts of the healthcare sector right now and review the company's long-term dividend safety and growth prospects. 

Founded in 1888, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is one of the world’s largest medical companies, with a portfolio of leading offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals. Abbott spun off its research-based pharmaceuticals business AbbVie (ABBV) in January 2013 and has four main business units today. Abbott’s revenues are widely diversified across segments, and the company sells more than 10,000 different products. This creates more stable and predictable cash flow compared to standalone drugmakers. 

Medtronic (MDT) is one of the classic American success stories, having been founded in 1949 by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law, Palmer Hermundslie, in a Minnesota medical equipment repair shop.Over the course of nearly 70 years, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest medical equipment device companies. Today Medtronic's products help treat over 40 medical conditions and 70 million patients around the world each year. The company's medical supplies products are used primarily in hospitals, surgical centers, and alternate care facilities, such as home care and long-term care facilities.Medtronic's business mix changed significantly when the company acquired Covidien for roughly $50 billion in January 2015. The deal expanded Medtronic's presence in faster-growing emerging markets, bolstered the size [...]

Kraft Heinz (KHC) has roots dating back to 1869, but the company was technically formed in 2015 by the $45 billion merger of Heinz and Kraft that was put together by a partnership of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital. This created the fifth largest food maker in the world and the third largest in the U.S. with more than $25 billion in revenue.Today Kraft Heinz sells products in over 190 countries under numerous household brand names such as Heinz, Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Velveeta, Lunchables, Planters, Maxwell House, Capri Sun, Ore-Ida, Kool-Aid, and Jell-O.