08:55 AM EST, 12/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher pre-bell Wednesday as the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) was up 0.2% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.3% recently.

Patterson (PDCO) shares rallied past 34% after the company said it has agreed to be acquired by health care investment firm Patient Square Capital for $31.35 per share in cash.