01:52 PM EST, 12/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were steady Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index little changed and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up almost 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.9%.

In corporate news, Walgreens Boots Alliance's ( WBA ) potential buyer Sycamore Partners contacted banks including Bank of America (BAC), JP Morgan (JPM) and Wells Fargo (WFC) to finance a deal over $10 billion, Sky News reported. Walgreens shares popped 3.4%.

UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) agreed to pay $69 million to settle a class action that accused the company of breaching its fiduciary duty by not removing the Wells Fargo Target Fund Suite from its 401(k) plan. UnitedHealth ( UNH ) shares rose 1.7%.

Centene ( CNC ) stock is undervalued, now that the company has laid out building blocks on how to operate if enhanced affordable care act, or ACA, exchange subsidies expire after 2025, UBS said. UBS upgraded Centene ( CNC ) to buy from neutral. Centene ( CNC ) shares spiked 3.7%.