Despite the Nasdaq's tech-heavy composition, five non-tech Nasdaq-listed stocks with Zacks Rank #1 ratings are positioned for strong growth. Ross Stores plans 115 store openings with 13% Q2 sales growth, Roku's advertising revenue climbed 24.8%, APA Corp benefits from cost savings and long-term growth projects, Corcept Therapeutics sees strong drug demand with recent FDA approvals, and Halozyme generates royalties from pharma collaborations.

With September CPI rising 3.7% year-over-year and inflation concerns potentially triggering additional Fed rate hikes, the article recommends three low-beta defensive healthcare stocks: Cardinal Health (CAH), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), and Corcept Therapeutics (CORT). These stocks offer lower market volatility and strong earnings growth prospects in an uncertain economic environment.

ImmunityBio received FDA approval to expand Anktiva's label for treating BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with high-grade papillary-only disease. The approval, granted three months ahead of schedule, now covers all BCG-unresponsive NMIBC patients. Anktiva sales surged 121% year-over-year to $95 million in the first half of 2026, driven by strong physician adoption and new prescriber demand.

EyePoint (EYPT) reported mixed results from its LUGANO wet AMD study, with Duravyu failing to meet the primary endpoint but showing encouraging secondary endpoint results. The company expects LUCIA study data in Q4 2026 and has completed enrollment in two phase III DME studies with results expected in Q4 2027. EYPT shares have declined 83.5% year-to-date despite a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical agreed to sell a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) for $203 million following FDA approval of Fayuvi, a gene therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA. This marks the company's second PRV sale in one week, with the previous Genglycos voucher sale generating $210 million. Both transactions provide non-dilutive funding to support pipeline development and profitability goals.

Liquidia Corporation has reached a global settlement with United Therapeutics, resolving all six pending legal disputes and ensuring continued access to Yutrepia for PAH patients. However, the company must pay $380.7 million in settlement obligations across 2026-2027, and the removal of the PH-ILD indication from Yutrepia's label narrows its approved use. The company reported preliminary Q3 2026 Yutrepia sales of $222.7 million and plans to advance pipeline candidate L606.

Alto Neuroscience (ANRO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is advancing its precision psychiatry pipeline with three key candidates. ALTO-207 for treatment-resistant depression showed encouraging phase IIa results, with phase IIb results expected in H2 2027. ALTO-300 and ALTO-100 are in phase IIb studies with top-line results expected in H1 2027 and mid-2027 respectively. ALTO-101 for schizophrenia-related cognitive impairment failed its primary endpoint but showed some secondary signals. Year-to-date, ANRO shares have risen 24.1%, outperforming the biotech industry's 2.9% growth.

Syndax Pharmaceuticals (SNDX) shares fell 15.7% after its phase II MAXPIRe study of axatilimab failed to meet the primary endpoint in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment. The drug showed no benefit in slowing FVC decline, though it maintained a favorable safety profile. The company is discontinuing IPF development but will continue pursuing axatilimab in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) with results expected in 2026 and 2028.

Bristol Myers Squibb announced mixed Phase III results for admilparant in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, meeting its primary endpoint only at the 60-mg dose while failing at 120-mg, causing the stock to decline 2.6%. However, the company reported positive Phase III results for RYZ101 in advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, demonstrating statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival. The mixed outcomes reflect uncertainty about admilparant's dose consistency despite favorable safety profiles.

Options traders are pricing in significant volatility for Corcept Therapeutics, with the November 20, 2026 $47.50 Put showing high implied volatility. The company holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating, and analysts have raised earnings estimates over the past 60 days, with consensus moving from 55 cents to 68 cents per share. High implied volatility may indicate traders are positioning for a major price move or preparing to sell premium.

Prime Medicine (PRME) has achieved significant regulatory and clinical progress, receiving FDA clearance for PM647 targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and dosing the first patient in a phase I/II trial of PM577a for Wilson disease. The stock has gained 26% over the past month, outperforming the biotech industry's 2.8% decline, driven by these encouraging developments in its Prime Editing platform for genetic disease treatments.

PMV Pharmaceuticals (PMVP) has gained nearly 19% in three months following encouraging clinical data for its lead drug rezatapopt, which achieved a 46% response rate in ovarian cancer patients. The company plans to submit an NDA in Q1 2027 and raised $50.8 million through a public offering to fund operations into Q1 2028.