Health Care Plans
(WLP) These Healthcare Insurance Stocks Are Ready to Rise
by Marc Lichtenfeld, Healthcare Expert Wednesday, February 24, 2010: Issue #1203 Healthcare Reform 2.0 is here – this time without as much pork. Good thing, too. Pork is loaded with cholesterol, which increases heart disease, healthcare costs and… well, you get the idea. The...
31Jan2012 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group – Bull of the Day
UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH) fourth-quarter 2011 earnings came in substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, led by strong revenue growth from the UnitedHealthcare and Optum businesses, partially offset by higher medical costs. The company ended the year 2011 with...
25Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group – Bull of the Day
UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH) fourth-quarter 2011 earnings came in substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, led by strong revenue growth from the UnitedHealthcare and Optum businesses, partially offset by higher medical costs. The company ended the year 2011 with...
23Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HS) HealthSpring Shareholders Approve CIGNA Merger
The acquisition of HealthSpring Inc. (HS) by CIGNA Corp. (CI) has received the approval of the former company’s shareholders. The approval came from approximately 83% of the shareholders, at a special meeting held on January 12, 2012. The acquisition was announced by...
22Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AET) Health Insurance Stock Review – December 2011 – Industry Outlook
The Health and Medical Insurance industry is an integral part of the U.S. economy. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. health expenditures account for about 18% of U.S. GDP. Money spent per person on healthcare in the United States is more than in...
15Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) Cigna Rating Affirmed by A.M. Best
As a part of its annual rating review process, rating agency A.M. Best undertook its rating action on CIGNA Corp. (CI). The action resulted in affirmation of the company’s issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” and financial strength rating of “A”, with a stable outlook. The...
7Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WLP) Health Insurers Cut Third Quarter Lobbying Costs
Most of the leading health insurance companies reduced their lobbying costs in the third quarter of 2011, compared with the second quarter, although many recorded a year-over-year increase. WellPoint Inc. (WLP), the largest health insurer based on membership, spent $870,000 on...
6Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana to Buy SeniorBridge
Yesterday, Humana Inc. (HUM) announced an agreement to acquire chronic-care provider SeniorBridge for an undisclosed amount. However, the purchase is subject to state and federal regulatory approvals. SeniorBridge is an 11-year old New York-based healthcare provider, which offers...
1Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Provides 2012 Guidance
On Monday, through a brief press release, health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) announced its earnings outlook for the full year 2012. The company expects the earnings to be in the range of $4.55 to $4.75. It also affirmed its 2011 full year guidance of $4.52 to $4.57. While...
30Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Acquires Medicare Advantage Business
On Tuesday, UnitedHealthcare, a division of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), announced its plan to acquire XLHealth Corp, a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans. With this acquisition, the company is expected to remain a step ahead of its competitors including WellPoint Inc. (WLP)and...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on UnitedHealth Group (UNH) to Outperform from Neutral as we believe the company will beat consensus estimates helped by lower medical utilization since both Medicare and Commercial cost trends remain at historical lows. The company’s...
18Oct2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Gets Customer-centric
In a bid to provide specialized customer service, health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) has announced a national brand campaign, with the theme “GO YOU”. The campaign chiefly focuses on providing user-friendly programs along with delivering unique customer service. The advertisement...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana Incorporated – Bull of the Day
Humana, Inc.’s (HUM) second-quarter earnings modestly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, owing to improved consolidated premiums and ASO fees that also drove the benefit ratio along with improvement in medical and specialty memberships. Humana benefits from the new rule...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana Incorporated – Bull of the Day
Humana, Inc.’s (HUM) second-quarter earnings modestly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, owing to improved consolidated premiums and ASO fees that also drove the benefit ratio along with improvement in medical and specialty memberships. Humana benefits from the new rule...
11Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Corporation – Bull of the Day
CIGNA Corp’s (CI) second quarter core earnings were fairly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, as well as the year-ago quarter’s earnings. Better-than-expected results were aided by strong earnings from across the board. EPS also benefited from a lower share count...
16Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Analyst Reiterates Shares at Outperform
We are reiterating our Outperform recommendation on the shares of CIGNA Corp. (CI) following the company’s second quarter results. Earnings of $1.53 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 as well as earnings of $1.38 per share reported in the comparable...
15Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Headquarters Shifted to Connecticut
Health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) recently revealed plans shift to its headquarters to Bloomfield, Connecticut after it was nominated to receive economic benefits from the state government in exchange for new job creations. The CIGNA base will move from Philadelphia, where it has...
15Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Spends More on Lobbying
In a bid to lobby the Federal Government, Minnesota-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group (UNH) spent $660,000 during the first quarter of 2011, which was in line with the comparable period last year but up 14% sequentially. Lobbying is an activity usually paid by an interest...
5Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Cuts Lobbying Costs
Philadelphia-based managed care company CIGNA Corp.(CI) has reportedly spent $280,000 on lobbying the Federal Government during the first quarter of 2011. However, lobbying expenses in the reported quarter marked a decline of 30% from the previous-year quarter and 18% from the...
30Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AET) Aetna Takes Over Prodigy Health Group
Aetna Inc. (AET) has recently revealed that it has completed the acquisition of Prodigy Health Group, which was announced back in April. New York-based Prodigy sells self funded plans to employers that employ about 100-5000 individuals. The acquisition, valued at $600 million,...
30Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNH) UnitedHealth Group Takes Department of Defense to Court
UnitedHealthcare, a division of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) sued the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims after it lost the $23.5 billion 5-year Tricare South contract to Humana Inc. (HUM). The Tricare South contract covers 3 million military...
29Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AET) Aetna Gets Approval From Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Aetna Inc. (AET) has recently revealed that it has finally got green signal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to market its Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan products. In April 2010, the company was banned from offering these products to...
16Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVH) Coventry Health Care Sells Senior Notes
Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH) has completed a $600 million public offering of 5.45% Senior Notes due 2021, which was announced on June 2. Coventry had sold the senior unsecured notes with a 5.45% coupon at a price of $99.80 to yield 5.476% and offered a risk premium of 245...
12Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Corporation – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on the shares of CIGNA Corp. (CI) to Outperform from Neutral on the back of improving enrollment expectations, expanding international business. Its first quarter core earning was fairly ahead of Zacks Consensus Estimates well as year ago earnings. Better-than-expected...
12Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVH) Moody’s Might Raise Coventry Ratings
Following the impressive first-quarter earnings results and improved 2011 earnings outlook of Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH), the rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has kept its debt ratings under review. According to Moody’s, it will seek Coventry’s ability...
5Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVH) Coventry Health Care Performance Makes Moody’s Maintain Ratings
Following the impressive first-quarter earnings results and improved 2011 earnings outlook of Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH), the rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has kept its debt ratings under review. According to Moody’s, it will seek Coventry’s ability...
30May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana Incorporated – Bull of the Day
Humana Inc. (HUM) posted strong first quarter earnings, beating both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the prior-year earnings, owing to improved performance in the Employer Group and Health and Well-Being Services business segments. Humana benefited from the new rule of the health...
24May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HNT) Health Net First Quarter Report Beats Top Line
Health Net Inc. (HNT) reported first-quarter loss of $108.2 million or a loss per share of $1.16 compared to a net income of $16.1 million or 16 cents in the prior-year quarter. The reported quarter included a $177.2 million pretax or $157.9 million after tax, charge related...
5May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WLP) WellPoint Quarterly Earnings Outshine – Company Increases Outlook
WellPoint Inc. (WLP) reported its first-quarter income from continuing operations of $891.0 million or $2.35 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.87. This also compares favorably with the income of $871.9 million or earnings of $1.95 in the year-ago quarter. The...
3May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana to Pay Dividend – Raises Outlook
As a result of the health care sector’s latest restrictions, Humana Inc. (HUM) plans to offer a quarterly dividend, besides raising the fiscal year 2011 forecast. Accordingly, Humana’s Board has initiated a quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share, payable on July...
29Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued