Earnings Preview: What to Expect From Cigna's Report

Core Insights - Cigna Group (CI) is a major player in the insurance industry, with a market cap of $74.6 billion, offering a range of insurance products including life, accident, disability, supplemental, Medicare, and dental insurance [1] Financial Performance - Analysts anticipate that Cigna will report a profit of $7.90 per share for Q4 2025, reflecting a 19% increase from $6.64 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year, Cigna's EPS is expected to be $29.63, an 8.4% increase from $27.33 in fiscal 2024, with a further rise to $30.56 projected for fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Cigna's stock has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 16.9% over the past 52 weeks, while Cigna's shares only increased by 1.7% during the same period [4] - The stock also lagged behind the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund, which returned 13% in the same timeframe [4] Market Concerns - Investor concerns regarding Cigna's pharmacy-benefit management (PBM) business model have contributed to its underperformance, particularly due to a planned shift to a no-rebate pricing model by 2027 and the repricing of major contracts worth $90 billion in annual revenue, raising fears of transition risk and margin compression [5] Recent Earnings Report - On October 30, Cigna's shares fell over 17% despite reporting Q3 results that included an adjusted EPS of $7.83, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of $7.70, and adjusted revenue of $69.6 billion, exceeding the forecast of $67.2 billion [6] - Cigna expects its full-year adjusted EPS to be $29.60 [6] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion among analysts is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating overall; out of 23 analysts, 17 recommend a "Strong Buy," 2 suggest a "Moderate Buy," 3 give a "Hold," and 1 recommends a "Strong Sell" [7] - The average analyst price target for Cigna is $326.05, indicating a potential upside of 16.8% from current levels [7]