<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>This followed a crushing Friday for tech stocks and other assets seen as relatively high risk.</li><li>Molina has a fairly solid and reliable business and is relatively resistant to economic shocks.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Molina Healthcare ›</li></ul>Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH) had a good week, at least as far as its stock was concerned. Over the past five trading days, according to data compiled by S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence, the shares raced almost 10% higher, thanks in no small part to a rotation into defensive stocks.<h2>Tech aversion</h2>Late in the week, tech stocks in particular crashed fairly hard. Many had jumped higher in recent months because of excitement around the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI). However, no rally lasts forever, and such titles began to take hits on Thursday. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg3MzM1OS90d28tcGVvcGxlLWluLXdoaXRlLWxhYi1jb2F0cy1sb29raW5nLWF0LWEtY29tcHV0ZXItZGlzcGxheS5qcGcmdz03MDA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="393" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg3MzM1OS90d28tcGVvcGxlLWluLXdoaXRlLWxhYi1jb2F0cy1sb29raW5nLWF0LWEtY29tcHV0ZXItZGlzcGxheS5qcGcmdz03MDA"/>Image source: Getty Images. The following day, following a far better-than-expected jobs report, investors began to worry that such data increases the chances of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Higher rates (or the fear of them) tend to drive up bond yields, making such assets more attractive to investors while dampening enthusiasm for riskier plays like tech stocks. As an insurer and managed care organization (MCO), Molina operates a solid business that is to some extent insulated from economic shocks. It also habitually posts top-line growth and net profits. So for some investors, it's a kind of safe haven in times when the economy starts to seem wobbly.<h2>Some consider it a safe haven</h2>I'm not as worried as some about the near future of risky plays like tech stocks. Nevertheless, Molina is a good choice for those who feel otherwise, particularly since it's a veteran operator that is very effective at both its main businesses. I'd say that makes it a buy these days.<h2>Should you buy stock in Molina Healthcare right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Molina Healthcare, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Molina Healthcare wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,847!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,342,065!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 968% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 5, 2026. Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH) shares rose nearly 10% this week, driven by a market rotation into defensive stocks. This surge followed a sharp decline in tech stocks, triggered by strong jobs data that raised fears of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. As an insurer and managed care organization, Molina is viewed as resilient to economic shocks, attracting investors seeking safety amid heightened volatility in riskier assets.

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Why Molina Healthcare Stock Cruised to a Nearly 10% Gain This Week