Key Takeaways UnitedHealth leverages insurance and Optum services as Q4 2025 revenues climbed 12.3% year over year.UNH's medical care ratio hit 92.4% as costs jumped, while Medicare Advantage membership rose 7.6%.Humana's Q4 revenues grew 11.3%, but 2026 EPS is seen falling 41% amid Medicare Advantage exposure.The landscape of managed care is undergoing significant changes due to rising medical utilization, evolving reimbursement models and ongoing cost challenges. Meanwhile, the aging population and the ch ...

Group 1 - UBS maintained a Neutral rating and a $195 price target on Humana, emphasizing the importance of sustainable margins in its Medicare Advantage (MA) business [1] - Management highlighted that long-term value calculations for MA members depend on achieving sustainable margin levels and indicated corrective actions may be taken if the upcoming rate notice does not improve or if challenges arise with new MA enrollees [1] Group 2 - Management expects greater clarity on pricing for the 2026 book of business by April or May, ahead of bid submissions in early June [2] - Humana projected a 25% membership growth for 2026, which could provide additional upside to its broader financial targets, although management prefers to assess trends through 2028 before making firm conclusions [2] Group 3 - The company has implemented measures to enhance capital efficiency, including relocating its Wisconsin and Washington entities back to Kentucky, which reduces capital requirements with support from reinsurance arrangements [3]

Group 1 - Truist Securities raised its price target on Centene to $49 from $47 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing constructive discussions with management and improving margin prospects across segments [1] - The firm highlighted expected Marketplace margin expansion in 2026 and anticipated progress in Medicaid during the second half of 2025, supported by initiatives designed to stabilize the health benefits ratio in 2026 [2] - Medicare Advantage remains on track toward breakeven, while 2026 Part D margins are assumed to remain prudent [2] Group 2 - Truist continues to see meaningful opportunities to unlock earnings power across Centene's business and reiterated its positive outlook on the stock [2]

THIS IS "THE CLOSE." ROMAINE: A REBOUND RALLY AS ANTHROPIC TRIES TO PLAY NICE. HEAR FROM BLOOMBERG HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, I AM ROMAINE BOSTICK. >> AND I AM KRISTINE AQUINO. CAUTION OVER INFLATION IS THE MESSAGE WE HEARD FROM FED SPEAKERS TODAY AND AGAIN CALLING INTO QUESTION HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE FEDERAL CUT RATES THIS YEAR. THAT IS AFFECTING TO YOU YOUR -- TWO YEAR YIELDS TODAY. TREASURIES ARE DOWN AT THE MOMENT. WE HEARD FROM THE PRIME MINISTER SAYING RATE HIKES IN JAPAN POTENTIALLY CASTING DOUBT OVER ...

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elevance Health Foundation has awarded 22 new grants totaling more than $2.3 million to support food as medicine programs across the country. These grants will help nonprofit organizations improve access to nutritious food and advance clinical outcomes for individuals and families experiencing food and nutrition insecurity, particularly those living with diet-related chronic conditions. This latest round of funding is part of the Foundation's five-year, $150 milli. ...

In this article, we will take a look at the 13 Best Strong Buy Dividend Stocks to Invest In.In uncertain times, large companies that pay strong dividends tend to attract more attention, as these businesses generate profits supported by steady cash flows, which help sustain dividend payments even during moderate economic slowdowns. That consistency matters, and it reflects financial strength and careful management. Companies that commit to maintaining or increasing dividends must stay disciplined. They canno ...

Quick Read Medical care costs rose 2.85% year-over-year versus 2.16% general inflation. Healthcare spending grew 6.9% while consumer spending rose 4.6%. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum. Medicare Advantage plans cap catastrophic costs but impose network and prior authorization restrictions. Personal savings rate fell from 6.2% in early 2024 to 4.2% by mid-2025. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to rea ...

穆巴迪 19世纪初，美国医学充斥江湖郎中与低端从业者，医生地位低于律师。A－MA于1847年成立（美国医 学会，AmericanMedicalAssociation），推动标准化教育，将医学提升为"主权专业"——独立于市场、政 府与公众的自治领域。医生宣称"高于市场"，强调伦理而非利润，并赢得公众信任，塑造了早期系统私 人执业、无广告、无价格竞争的形象。然而，1930年代的大萧条打破了早期的平衡。在失业潮下，医院 面临倒闭，蓝十字蓝盾（BlueCrossBlueShield）等非营利保险兴起，承诺支付医院费用，换取稳定收 入。医生最初抵制，视保险为"企业医学"威胁专业自主，但战后经济繁荣与税收优惠（如雇主保险免 税）加速产业化。到1950年代，私人保险覆盖半数人口，医院从慈善机构转为"半企业"——行政费用从 战前5%飙升至20%。斯塔尔强调，这一转型非必然。欧洲选择国家保险，美国却因AMA反对"社会化医 学"，偏好市场模式，奠定了利润优先的基础，这就产生了"专业vs市场"的冲突，从而导致种种问题 ——医生从主权者沦为产业劳工、医疗系统碎片化，行政负担沉重，医疗费用昂贵，甚至会导致医院合 并浪潮，放大垄断。 2 ...

Group 1: Company Performance - Salesforce (CRM) shares fell 29.1% year-to-date, underperforming the Dow by 32.5 percentage points, despite reporting Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue of $10.26 billion and raising full-year guidance to $41.45 billion to $41.55 billion [1][2] - Microsoft (MSFT) experienced a 17.4% decline in stock price, lagging the Dow by 20.8 percentage points, even after reporting Q2 revenue of $81.3 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, and Azure growth of 39% [1][2] - UnitedHealth (UNH) saw a 12.7% drop in stock value, trailing the Dow by 16.1 percentage points, with Q4 2025 revenue of $113.22 billion missing estimates and operating income plummeting 95% to $380 million [1][2] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Trends - The divergence in performance between these companies and the Dow reflects a broader market sentiment where fundamentals alone do not drive returns, as investors reassess structural assumptions regarding AI, healthcare regulations, and capital expenditures [2] - Concerns over AI's impact on traditional software demand have led to a sell-off in software stocks, with Salesforce's valuation being questioned despite a projected 14.7% growth in business software spending in 2026 [1][2] - Microsoft's significant capital expenditures of $29.9 billion in Q2, up 89% year-over-year, raised investor concerns about whether this would translate into expected growth rates, contributing to stock price declines [1][2] Group 3: Financial Metrics - Salesforce's revenue grew 8.6% year-over-year, but shares dropped from $264.91 to $187.79 between December 31, 2025, and February 18, 2026 [1] - Microsoft reported a free cash flow decline of 9.3% despite strong operating cash flow growth, indicating potential challenges in maintaining profitability amid high capital expenditures [1] - UnitedHealth's net income fell to $10 million, down 99.8% year-over-year, highlighting the fragility of its Medicare Advantage model amid regulatory pressures and increased medical costs [1][2]

Core Viewpoint - Humana Inc. has declared a cash dividend of $0.885 per share, payable on April 24, 2026, to stockholders of record as of March 27, 2026 [1] Company Overview - Humana is a leading U.S. healthcare company that provides insurance services and healthcare services through its CenterWell division, aiming to help millions achieve better health [1]