09:11 AM EDT, 11/01/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were flat to higher pre-bell Friday as the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was unchanged and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) was up 0.5% recently.

Cardinal Health ( CAH ) shares advanced by over 2% after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 non-GAAP earnings and raised its full-year guidance for non-GAAP earnings per share.

Waters Corporation ( WAT ) shares rose past 11% after the company reported higher fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and net sales. The company also raised its guidance for full-year adjusted earnings per share.

ESSA Pharma ( EPIX ) shares were down more than 68% after the company said it decided to terminate the phase 2 trial evaluating the combination of masofaniten and enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer compared with enzalutamide alone.