Group 1: Thanksgiving Closures - Most federal and financial institutions will pause operations on Thanksgiving Day, including banks, post offices, and the stock market (NYSE and Nasdaq) [2] - Major shipping carriers such as United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. will suspend standard pickup and delivery services on this day [2] - Retail giants like Walmart Inc., Target Corp., Costco Wholesale Corp., Macy's Inc., and Kohl's Corp. will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day [3] Group 2: Thanksgiving Openings - Many grocery chains, including Kroger Co., Whole Foods, and Sprouts Farmers Market Inc., will be open on Thanksgiving, albeit with reduced hours [4] - Select pharmacies like CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens will operate, but customers should check local store hours as pharmacy counters may be closed [4] Group 3: Black Friday Operations - Business operations will resume on Black Friday, November 28, with banks and post offices reopening for regular service [6] - The stock market will open but will close early at 1 p.m. ET on Black Friday [6] - Major retailers, including Walmart and Target, will open at 6 a.m. for Black Friday deals, marking the start of the shopping season [6]

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) and CVS Health Corporation (CVS) are prominent players in the healthcare industry, integrating health insurance, pharmacy services, and care delivery resources to enhance their market reach [1][2] UnitedHealth Group (UNH) - UNH operates through two segments: UnitedHealthcare (insurance benefits) and Optum (virtual care, behavioral health, pharmacy solutions) [2] - As of September 30, 2025, UNH has a market cap of $296.2 billion and serves 50.1 million people, reflecting a 1.6% year-over-year growth [4] - Total revenue for UNH increased by 12% year-over-year in Q3 2025, with UnitedHealthcare growing by 16% and Optum by 8% [5] - UNH ended Q3 2025 with $30.6 billion in cash and short-term investments, with total debt-to-capital at 41.6% [6] - The medical care ratio rose to 89.9% in Q3 2025, up from 85.2% the previous year, indicating rising medical costs [7] - UNH expects revenues between $445.5 billion and $448 billion for 2025, with adjusted net EPS projected at least $16.25 [13] CVS Health Corporation (CVS) - CVS operates through Aetna (insurance), Caremark (pharmacy benefit management), and retail pharmacy segments [2] - CVS has a market cap of $99.6 billion and serves 26.7 million medical members as of September 30, 2025 [9] - Total revenues for CVS rose by 7.8% year-over-year to $102.9 billion in Q3 2025, with adjusted operating income increasing by 35.8% [10] - CVS ended Q3 2025 with $9.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with a medical benefit ratio of 92.8% [11] - CVS expects revenues of at least $397.3 billion for 2025, with adjusted EPS projected between $6.55 and $6.65 [14] Comparative Analysis - CVS is currently favored in earnings estimates, with a projected 22.1% increase in earnings for 2025, while UNH's EPS is expected to decline by 41.1% [15] - Valuation metrics show CVS trading at a forward P/E of 11.07X compared to UNH's 18.68X, indicating a more attractive risk-reward profile for CVS [16] - Year-to-date, UNH shares have dropped by 35.5% due to medical cost concerns, while CVS shares have increased by 74.8% [19] Conclusion - UNH remains a significant player in the healthcare sector but faces challenges from rising medical costs and regulatory scrutiny [20] - CVS is showing positive momentum with improved profit margins and consistent earnings beats, presenting a more favorable investment opportunity [21][22]

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) and CVS Health Corporation (CVS) are prominent players in the healthcare industry, integrating health insurance, pharmacy services, and care delivery resources to enhance their reach across the U.S. healthcare ecosystem [1] UnitedHealth Group (UNH) - UNH operates through two main segments: UnitedHealthcare (insurance benefits) and Optum (virtual care, behavioral health, pharmacy solutions) [2] - As of September 30, 2025, UNH has a market cap of $296.2 billion and serves 50.1 million people, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 1.6% [4] - Total revenue for UNH increased by 12% year over year in Q3 2025, with UnitedHealthcare growing by 16% and Optum by 8% [5] - UNH ended Q3 2025 with $30.6 billion in cash and short-term investments, with total debt-to-capital at 41.6% [6] - The medical care ratio rose to 89.9% in Q3 2025, up from 85.2% the previous year, indicating rising medical costs [7] - UNH expects revenues between $445.5 billion and $448 billion for 2025, with adjusted net EPS projected at least $16.25 [13] CVS Health Corporation (CVS) - CVS operates through Aetna (insurance), Caremark (pharmacy benefit management), and retail pharmacy segments, focusing on hybrid care services and digital engagement [2][9] - As of September 30, 2025, CVS has a market cap of $99.6 billion and serves 26.7 million medical members [9] - CVS's total revenues rose by 7.8% year over year to $102.9 billion in Q3 2025, with adjusted operating income increasing by 35.8% [10][11] - CVS ended Q3 2025 with $9.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with a medical benefit ratio of 92.8% [11] - CVS expects revenues of at least $397.3 billion for 2025, with adjusted EPS projected between $6.55 and $6.65 [14] Comparative Analysis - CVS is currently favored in earnings estimates, with a projected 22.1% increase in earnings for 2025, while UNH's EPS is expected to decline by 41.1% [15] - Valuation metrics favor CVS, trading at a forward P/E of 11.07X compared to UNH's 18.68X, indicating a more attractive risk-reward profile for CVS [16] - Year-to-date, UNH shares have dropped by 35.5%, while CVS shares have increased by 74.8%, outperforming the broader industry [19] Conclusion - UNH remains a significant player in the healthcare sector but faces challenges such as rising medical costs and regulatory scrutiny [20] - CVS is showing improvements in profit margins and consistently beats earnings expectations, presenting a more favorable risk-reward scenario [21][22]

Core Insights - CVS Health and Walmart are leading players in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy market, with CVS operating nearly 9,000 retail pharmacy locations and Walmart being a tech-powered omnichannel retailer [1][2] Revenue Performance - CVS Health reported record revenues of $103 billion for Q3 2025, exceeding estimates by 17.65%, with an 8% year-over-year growth driven by all segments [3] - Walmart's Q3 fiscal 2026 revenues reached $179.5 billion, a 6% increase in constant currency, surpassing estimates by 1.33%, with the International segment growing 11.4% [4] Profitability Comparison - CVS's adjusted operating income for Q3 2025 was approximately $3.5 billion, a 36% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EPS at $1.60, up 47% from the previous year [5] - Walmart's adjusted operating income increased 8% in constant currency, with adjusted EPS rising 7% year-over-year to 62 cents [6] Financial Health Snapshot - CVS generated operating cash flows of approximately $7.2 billion year-to-date, with total debt at $65.84 billion and $2.6 billion returned to shareholders [7] - Walmart reported $10.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with net cash from operating activities at $27.5 billion and total debt at $53.1 billion, returning nearly $13 billion to shareholders [8] Future Outlook - CVS expects revenues of at least $397 billion for 2025, raising its EPS outlook to between $6.55 and $6.65 [10] - Walmart forecasts fiscal 2026 constant-currency sales growth between 4.8% and 5.1%, with adjusted EPS expected between $2.58 and $2.63 [11] Price Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CVS shares have surged 73.5%, significantly outperforming Walmart's 15.4% growth [14] - CVS is trading at a forward five-year price-to-sales ratio of 0.24, below its median, while Walmart's P/S is 1.13 [15] Estimate Trends - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CVS's 2025 EPS implies a year-over-year growth of 22.1% to $6.62, with estimates rising by 4.1% in the past 60 days [16] - Walmart's fiscal 2026 EPS consensus has increased by 0.8% to $2.62, representing a 4.4% increase over fiscal 2025 [18] Investment Consideration - Both CVS and Walmart are positioned as major players in the retail pharmacy space, with CVS showing solid momentum and Walmart benefiting from its International segment and e-commerce growth [19]

Core Insights - Curaechoice has partnered with CVS Caremark as its pharmacy benefit manager, aiming to reduce prescription drug costs for its members [1][2] - The collaboration will enable Curaechoice members to access CVS Caremark's extensive network of 65,000 pharmacies starting January 1, 2026 [1] - The partnership is expected to help self-insured employers manage healthcare spending while providing quality care to employees [3] Company Overview - Curaechoice specializes in No-Cost Benefits Optimization, focusing on providing comprehensive healthcare solutions without copays, deductibles, or co-insurance [4] - CVS Caremark, a subsidiary of CVS Health, is recognized for its innovation and affordability in prescription drug delivery, operating a broad network of retail and mail-order locations [4] Market Context - Pharmacy costs account for nearly one-third of an employer's total healthcare spending, highlighting the significance of the partnership in addressing rising healthcare expenses [2] - The collaboration is positioned as a response to the increasing financial pressures faced by families, including costs related to groceries, gas, childcare, and healthcare [3]

Core Points - CVS Health announced the election of David Joyner as Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2026 [1] - Michael Mahoney will continue to serve as the Lead Independent Director of the Board [1] - Current Executive Chairman Roger Farah will remain on the Board [1]

Core Points - CVS Health has elected David Joyner as Chair of the Board effective January 1, 2026, in addition to his role as President and CEO [1][2] - The Board believes that having one leader with extensive industry experience will enhance the execution of the company's long-term strategy and create stockholder value [3] - CVS Health operates approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations and serves over 87 million plan members through its pharmacy benefits manager [4] Leadership Changes - David Joyner has been recognized for his leadership and operational improvements since becoming President and CEO in October 2024 [2] - Michael Mahoney will remain as the Board's Lead Independent Director, while Roger Farah continues to serve on the Board [1] Company Overview - CVS Health is a leading health solutions company with a focus on providing accessible, affordable, and coordinated health care [4] - The company serves over 37 million people through various health insurance products, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D [4] - CVS Health aims to connect people to better health through personalized, technology-driven services [4]

Core Insights - CVS Health's Aetna is transitioning from a transactional healthcare model to a consumer-focused health experience by introducing a generative AI-powered conversational assistant across its digital platforms [1][8] Group 1: Aetna's Generative AI Assistant - The generative AI assistant will simplify healthcare navigation for members, providing personalized and easy-to-understand responses without the need for technical healthcare terminology [2][8] - Aetna's assistant will be integrated into Aetna Care Paths, a new digital offering aimed at enhancing the experience for both medical professionals and patients [4] Group 2: Expansion and Features - The new AI capability was initially launched in October 2023 to a beta population, with plans for broader access throughout 2024 and into the first half of 2026 [3][8] - Upcoming enhancements will include proactive AI insights and support for multimodal interactions, such as voice and text [3][8] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Cardinal Health has acquired Solaris Health, expanding its Urology Alliance and achieving a 22% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 of fiscal 2026 [5] - Centene Corp.'s Wellcare plans to offer Medicare Advantage to over 51 million beneficiaries across 32 states, focusing on improving member experience [6] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - CVS Health's shares have increased by 70.5% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the industry average growth of 4.9% [7] - The company is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/sales (P/S) ratio of 0.24, which is lower than the industry average of 0.45 [9]

Core Insights - Pzena Investment Management LLC maintains a disciplined value investment strategy with a total portfolio value of $30.94 billion as of September 30, 2025, focusing on cyclical recoveries and normalized earnings power [1] Top Holdings - Magna International Inc. (MGA) leads the portfolio with a value of $1.92 billion, representing 6.19% of total assets, despite a slight reduction of 434,000 shares (–1.5%) [2] - Baxter International Inc. (BAX) follows with $1.31 billion (4.22%), having added 18 million shares (+45.9%), reflecting confidence in its restructuring and margin recovery [3] - Citigroup Inc. (C) is third at $1.27 billion (4.11%), with a reduction of approximately 1 million shares (–7.7%), indicating a belief in the bank's undervaluation [4] - Dollar General Corp. (DG) ranks fourth at $1.21 billion (3.9%), with a minor reduction of 171,000 shares (–1.5%), aligning with Pzena's preference for cash-generating franchises [5] - CVS Health Corp. (CVS) holds $1.19 billion (3.86%), having sold 901,000 shares (–5.4%), fitting the model of steady cash flows during market pessimism [6] Other Key Adjustments - Modest increases were noted in Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) (+1.5%) and MetLife (MET) (+5.8%), while Wells Fargo (WFC) and Capital One (COF) were slightly trimmed, indicating fine-tuning rather than thematic shifts [7] - Humana (HUM) remains a significant healthcare position at $1.05 billion (3.39%), with a slight reduction [7] Full Exits - The quarter saw complete disposals of smaller positions including Shyft Group (SHYF), Synovus Financial (SNV), NatWest Group (NWG), ICICI Bank (IBN), Ulta Beauty (ULTA), and Alkermes (ALK S), reflecting a consolidation towards higher-conviction U.S. large-caps [8] Outlook - Pzena's Q3 2025 update highlights its status as a deep-value investor in a growth-focused market, with significant additions to Baxter and stable positions in Magna and Citigroup, emphasizing a commitment to low-multiple, high-cash-flow companies [9]

Core Insights - Aetna is launching a generative AI-powered conversational assistant to enhance member navigation through healthcare benefits, marking a shift from traditional transactional experiences to a more consumer-focused approach [1][2]. Group 1: AI Integration and User Experience - The new assistant will be embedded throughout Aetna's digital platforms, providing immediate and easy-to-understand answers without requiring technical healthcare terminology from members [3][4]. - Aetna's approach includes dynamically generated user interface components that enhance responses with visual aids like maps and charts, making the interaction more engaging and informative [5]. - The assistant will support multimodal interactions, including voice and text, ensuring accessibility for all members [6]. Group 2: Personalized Assistance and Care Navigation - The assistant will proactively offer insights and assistance based on members' current navigation within the platform, enhancing the overall user experience [6]. - Aetna's Care Paths feature will integrate the assistant to guide members through specific health conditions, providing clarity on procedures and personalized care recommendations [7]. Group 3: Company Overview and Market Position - Aetna, part of CVS Health, serves approximately 37 million people with a range of health insurance products and services, including medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health plans [8]. - CVS Health operates around 9,000 retail pharmacy locations and serves over 87 million plan members through its pharmacy benefits manager, emphasizing its integrated model to improve health outcomes and reduce costs [8].