Why This Health Care Stock Has Gained 35% This Week

Core Insights - Oscar Health shares experienced a significant increase following an upgrade from Piper Sandler analysts, who raised their rating to "overweight" and increased the price target from $13 to $25 [2][4]. Stock Performance - Oscar shares rose by 9% in late trading, reaching approximately $18.20, and have gained about 35% over the past week [2][8]. - Prior to this rally, Oscar shares had remained relatively unchanged for the year, but the recent gains have allowed them to outperform the S&P 500 year-to-date [9]. Analyst Insights - Piper Sandler is the only firm with a "buy" rating on Oscar among six analysts, with one "hold" and four "sell" ratings, and an average price target of $15 [2]. - Analysts believe that even if Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expire at the end of the year, Oscar can still grow its market share and profitability due to its strategic product design and pricing for 2026 [5][8]. Policy Impact - The potential extension of ACA subsidies is expected to lower costs for millions of Americans and stabilize enrollment rates, which would benefit health care companies like Oscar [4]. - Analysts at Piper Sandler assert that Oscar is well-positioned to adapt to various policy scenarios, indicating confidence in the company's management and product strategy [6].