09:01 AM EDT, 08/04/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks were steady premarket Tuesday, with the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) inactive and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) marginally advancing.

Merck ( MRK ) shares were up 0.9% after the company posted an increase in Q2 sales and raised its 2026 sales outlook.