Dental supply stock surges on RFK’s anti-fluoride stance, activist involvement

Dental care provider Henry Schein superior in Monday buying and selling as buyers wager that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choose for Well being and Human Providers secretary, might suggest eradicating fluoride from the U.S. water system, a transfer that may result in a growth in dental visits.

Shares of Henry Schein shares jumped about 7.5%, notching its finest day since 2022. Fellow dental product makers Dentsply Sirona and Envista additionally rose within the session.

Monday’s strikes come as buyers prepared for public well being adjustments underneath a second Trump administration. Kennedy posted on X earlier than the presidential election this month {that a} “Trump White Home will advise all U.S. water techniques to take away fluoride from public water.”

Fluoride has lengthy been proven as an efficient methodology for combating cavities. However the mineral has discovered itself on the middle of a nationwide battle that is led some native communities to finish packages centered on its insertion into public water.

Whereas Kennedy might want to win Senate approval to take the job, market contributors are already zeroing in on a gaggle of shares that make dental hygiene merchandise as potential beneficiaries of his insurance policies. That is as a result of taking fluoride out of water would truly put the tooth cleansing business in greater demand as customers look elsewhere to battle cavities, in line with agency Gordon Haskett.

“The thought right here is RFK will deliver to HHS a voice that’s in favor of decreasing, or eliminating, the quantity of fluoridation that’s added to ingesting water,” Don Bilson, Gordon Haskett’s head of event-driven analysis, instructed shoppers in a Monday be aware. “This can, in flip, result in an acceleration of tooth decay and extra dental visits.”

Henry Schein shares took a leg up in afternoon buying and selling following a Reuters report that activist investor Ananym Capital was calling for adjustments on the firm. The newly launched agency, which is led by Charlie Penner and Alex Silver, believes the board must be shaken up and prices must be lower, amongst different concepts.

Henry Schein and different shares within the house supply a shiny spot inside a sector that has largely struggled for the reason that election. The Well being Care Choose Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) has tumbled greater than 3% in November, placing it on monitor for its first three-month dropping steak since final 12 months. By comparability, the broad S&P 500 has climbed greater than 3% within the month.

Gordon Haskett’s Bilson additionally identified that dental shares had been a number of the few “spared” health-focused equities as buyers responded to the announcement of Kennedy’s nomination final week. Pharmaceutical names had been underneath stress given Kennedy’s fame as a vaccine skeptic, whereas processed meals shares took successful as merchants equipped for elevated scrutiny of so-called junk meals.

“It brought about widespread promoting throughout the healthcare panorama,” Bilson mentioned of the choice to pick Kennedy. “Drugmakers, contract analysis organizations, and well being insurers all felt the quake. Somewhat than cease there, the harm spilled into packaged meals. And promoting.”

Whereas the market seems to be transferring on Kennedy’s nomination, Bilson mentioned that regulatory adjustments would seemingly take years to return into impact. He additionally famous that ingesting water ought to fall extra underneath the Environmental Safety Company than Well being and Human Providers.