01:37 PM EST, 01/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks advanced Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 0.4% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.3%.

In corporate news, UnitedHealth Group's ( UNH ) Q4 results increased on an annual basis, but revenue fell short of market expectations, while the health insurer kept its full-year outlook unchanged on Thursday. Its shares dropped 5%.