Pickleball’s Unlikely Impact on the Stock Market

Pickleball has grown beyond just a backyard pastime—it’s now influencing industries and even the stock market. Companies like Zimmer Biomet, Henry Schein, and Graphic Packaging Holding are tapping into the sport’s popularity, each benefiting from trends that link pickleball to aging demographics, healthcare advancements, and consumer shifts. Investors looking for stable, risk-averse options might find an unexpected sweet spot in businesses that align with the sport’s booming influence.

Zimmer Biomet, a leading orthopedic manufacturer, is seeing an uptick in demand for joint replacements, partially fueled by an increase in pickleball-related injuries. As more older players take to the courts, the need for knee, hip, and shoulder surgeries has risen, making the company’s products more essential than ever. Meanwhile, Henry Schein, known for distributing dental and medical equipment, remains a stable, low-volatility investment. The company’s strong earnings history and continued recovery from past cyberattack setbacks position it as a durable player in the healthcare sector.

Graphic Packaging Holding is capitalizing on another shift indirectly linked to pickleball: sustainable consumer trends. The company, which produces paper-based food and beverage cartons, is benefiting from growing demand for eco-friendly packaging as brands move away from plastics. With pickleball’s influence extending from healthcare to consumer markets, these mid-cap stocks could provide strong opportunities for investors seeking steady returns in an uncertain market.