Top Weight Loss Diet Stocks

Research data uncovered by SustainableVirtualBiZ.com shows two-thirds (66%) of American adults are either overweight or obese, and childhood obesity is triple what it was a generation ago. Most experts now recognize obesity as a public health crisis. But for companies that manufacture or sell nutritional - healthcare products, services, diets and foods designed to help people lose weight, it's a $60 billion industry that offers superior stock investment returns. Here are some top performers to watch for your portfolio below;

1. Medifast

Stock Symbol: (MED)
Close 5/10: 32.24
One-Year Change: 384.8%
YTD Change: 5.4%
Five-Year Change: 901.2%
Medifast, based in Owings Mills, Md., produces and distributes weight management and disease management products and other health and diet products.

2. lululemon athletica

Stock Symbol: (LULU)
Close 5/10: 39.09
One-Year Change: 164.1%
YTD Change: 29.9%
Five-Year Change: N/A
Lululemon, based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, designs and manufactures athletic apparel in the United States, Canada and Australia.

3. Vivus

Stock Symbol: (VVUS)
Close 5/10: 11.46
One-Year Change: 157.5%
YTD Change: 24.6%
Five-Year Change: 373.6%
Vivus, based in Mountain View, Calif., is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products

4. Orexigen Therapeutics

Stock Symbol: (OREX)
Close 5/10: 6.32
One-Year Change: 126.5%
YTD Change: -15.1%
Five-Year Change: N/A
Orexigen is a La Jolla, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of obesity treatments. Its products also targeted for obesity.

5. Finish Line

Stock Symbol: (FINL)
Close 5/10: 15.67
One-Year Change: 89.0%
YTD Change: 24.9%
Five-Year Change: -15.5%
Finish Line, based in Indianapolis, distributes branded athletic, outdoor and lifestyle footwear, activewear and accessories. The company reported Q4 earnings of 61 cents per share in March, beating the 48 cent per

6. Life Time Fitness

Stock Symbol: (LTM)
Close 5/10: 36.95
One-Year Change: 87.1%
YTD Change: 48.2%
Five-Year Change: 35.8%
Life Time Fitness, based in Chanhassen Place, Minn., operates sports, athletic, fitness, family recreation and resort and spa centers.

7. Herbalife

Stock Symbol: (HLF)
Close 5/10: 46.93
One-Year Change: 79.0%
YTD Change: 15.7%
Five-Year Change: 192.8%
Herbalife, based in the Cayman Islands, sells weight management, nutritional supplements and personal care products. The group also sells literature and promotional materials.

8. Schiff Nutrition International

Stock Symbol: (WNI)
Close on 5/10: 7.59
One-Year Change: 55.9%
YTD Change: -2.9%
Five-Year Change: 94.1%
Schiff Nutrition, based in Salt Lake City, manufactures and sells private label vitamins, nutritional supplements and sports nutrition products.

9. Nutraceutical International

Stock Symbol: (NUTR)
Close on 5/10: 14.42
One-Year Change: 54.7%
YTD Change: 16.6%
Five-Year Change: 9.7%
Nutraceutical, based in Park City, Utah, manufactures nutritional supplements and other natural products, including Nature's Life, NaturalMax, Supplement Training Systems.

10. NBTY Inc.

Stock Symbol: (NTY)
Close 5/10: 38.65
One-Year Change: 50.4%
YTD Change: -11.2%
Five-Year Change: 82.6%
NBTY, based in Ronkonkoma, NY, manufactures and markets vitamins, minerals, sports nutrition products, diet aids and other nutritional supplements under brand names.

Conclusion

The long-term investment returns look attractive for the healthcare weight-loss stocks, particularly given demographic – population trends as 72-million U.S. baby-boomers retire. These people are educated and concerned with medical health issues plus statistics showing over 70% will under-go cancer treatments.  

BIO: Mr. Rickman is a respected CEO/Developer living in Oregon. For over 30-years, companies large and small have relied on his innovative business development, Internet marketing/sales and video broadcast services. He is a published sustainable analyst, ghost-writer columnist and co-author worldwide of several books including Eight Billion People.  Mr. Rickman holds advanced business and technical degrees from Boston University. For more information visit: http://www.sustainablevirtualbiz.com  or call (503) 621-4953.