Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Rise Wednesday Afternoon

01:31 PM EST, 11/04/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 2.6% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 2.7%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.9%. In corporate news, CVS Health (CVS) said Wednesday it plans to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies, as it raised its full-year outlook after Q3 earnings and revenue topped Wall Street's estimates. Its shares fell past 12%. Novo Nordisk (NVO) shares jumped past 6% after it posted higher Q3 net sales and lifted its 2026 adjusted sales guidance. Medline (MDLN) shares surged 15% after it reported Q3 adjusted earnings that topped analysts' expectations, while net sales increased year on year. Moderna (MRNA) will advance its investigational mRNA-1469 vaccine candidate against Bundibugyo ebolavirus toward a phase 2/3 efficacy study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, subject to regulatory approval, following a recommendation from the World Health Organization's technical advisory group, the company said Wednesday. Moderna shares climbed past 8%.