Investing in healthcare stocks can be a fantastic way to diversify your portfolio with businesses that generate steady growth in a wide range of market environments. Not all healthcare stocks are created equal, however. These companies often prove to be all-weather in the sense that they can derive meaningful growth outside of tough economic conditions.

Healthcare stocks won't typically deliver lightning growth overnight, but these businesses can steadily augment your returns with time. On that note, if you're looking for two healthcare stocks to buy and hold for the long haul, don't gloss over these names when you do.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) has delivered a total return roughly twice that of the S 500 over the trailing 12 months -- and stands 40% higher than where it was one year ago.

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Source Fool.com