UnitedHealth Group led the charge as market participants recalibrated expectations for federal oversight, favoring the prospect of legislative stalemate over aggressive policy shifts. The relief rally reflects a broader sentiment that a split Congress will struggle to enact sweeping changes to the current health-care landscape.

Contrasting this sector-wide enthusiasm, CVS Health shares tumbled following a stark warning from the drug-store operator. Despite issuing an optimistic forecast for revenue growth, the company revealed that escalating costs are severely compressing margins, forcing investors to weigh the benefits of market expansion against the harsh reality of rising overhead.