Humana beats quarterly profit estimates on higher premiums

Core Viewpoint - Humana reported a third-quarter profit that exceeded Wall Street estimates, driven by higher premiums, and reaffirmed its annual profit forecast of approximately $17 per share [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The company posted an adjusted quarterly profit of $3.24 per share, surpassing analysts' average estimate of $2.82 per share [3]. - Humana's quarterly medical cost ratio was reported at 91.1%, an increase from 89.9% a year earlier, while analysts had anticipated a ratio of 90.90% [2]. Group 2: Business Outlook - CEO Jim Rechtin expressed optimism about the company's direction and the value being created for members, patients, and investors [1]. - The medical cost ratio aligns with Humana's previous expectation of "just above 91%" [2].