Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] Continued strength in mega-cap names keeps the Nasdaq Composite (+0.2%) in positive territory, while the S&P 500 and DJIA trade flat. 

The health care sector (-0.8%) faces pressure today, with several key components weighing on the DJIA.

UnitedHealth (UNH 300.69, -3.19, -1.05%), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 175.54, -1.25, -0.71%), Merck (MRK 82.97, -1.10, -1.31%), and others hold notable losses. 

Elsewhere, Cooper (COO 65.14, -8.97, -12.10%) is one of the weakest names in the S&P 500 today, after beating EPS expectations by $0.03, reporting revenues in-line, and guiding Q4 EPS in-line with revenues below consensus. 

The sector is still one of the best-performing S&P 500 sectors this month, with investors doing a fair amount of bargain hunting in recent weeks in the worst-performing sector for the year. As it stands, the health care sector holds a 1.5% year-to-date loss, making it the only S&P 500 sector with a loss for the year.