Group 1 - Cigna Group is considered one of the most undervalued large-cap stocks currently available for investment, with a Buy rating and a price target of $383.00 from Barclays [1] - Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Cigna with a Buy rating and a price target of $370, highlighting the significant underwriting downturn in the managed care industry and recommending increased exposure to the Medicare Advantage segment, with a projected margin recovery phase starting in 2026 [2] - Evernorth, Cigna's health services division, announced a new initiative aimed at lowering medication costs and improving transparency, which aligns with previous calls to address high brand-name drug costs and builds on its success in achieving low prices for generics [3]

Group 1 - UnitedHealth Group (UNH) exceeded third-quarter earnings estimates, marking the first full quarter after the CEO's ousting and a 40% reduction in its full-year outlook [1] - Following the earnings report, UNH stock experienced a significant increase, contributing to a rise in the Dow [1] - The overall market showed mixed signals, with S&P 500 futures trading near flat despite the positive performance of UNH [1] Group 2 - Universal Health Class B received a Relative Strength Rating upgrade, indicating improved technical performance [2]

Group 1: Apple Inc. - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sold 20 million shares of Apple in the second quarter, reducing its position by approximately 70% since late 2023, while Apple remains the largest holding in the portfolio valued at $313 billion [1][2] - Apple accounted for 43% of smartphone sales in the second quarter, significantly outperforming its closest competitor Samsung, and has a strong presence in personal computers, smartwatches, and tablets, which enhances consumer loyalty and pricing power [5][6] - The company has faced challenges in innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, with delays in the anticipated AI features and a lack of major new products since 2017, raising concerns about its high valuation at 40 times earnings [7][8] Group 2: UnitedHealth Group - Warren Buffett initiated a new position in UnitedHealth Group, a diversified healthcare company with a market cap of $331 billion, which operates through two segments: UnitedHealthcare and Optum [10][11] - UnitedHealth has faced significant challenges, including underestimating expenses by $6.5 billion in 2025, leading to an 18% decline in earnings in the first half of 2025 due to rising medical costs and utilization [12][13] - The company is under investigation by the Justice Department for potential antitrust violations and billing practices, contributing to its shares trading 42% below record highs, indicating caution for potential investors [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group is expected to report third-quarter 2025 results on October 28, 2025, with earnings estimated at $2.80 per share and revenues of $113.38 billion, reflecting a year-over-year revenue growth of 12.5% despite a significant decline in earnings per share [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - Third-quarter earnings estimates have decreased by 4 cents, indicating a 60.8% decline from the previous year [2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total revenues for the current year is $448.46 billion, representing a 12% increase year-over-year, while earnings per share are projected to drop by 41.6% [3]. Earnings Prediction - The model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for UnitedHealth this quarter, with an Earnings ESP of -0.81% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]. - The company has beaten earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of -3.3% [4]. Revenue Drivers - Premium and membership growth in UnitedHealthcare and service gains from Optum are expected to enhance results, with premium revenues projected to grow by 15.1% year-over-year [8][9]. - Total domestic commercial customers are expected to grow by 0.9%, with Medicare Advantage members increasing by 8% and Medicaid memberships by 1.9% [10]. Cost and Margin Pressures - Rising medical costs and increased overall expenses are anticipated to impact margins negatively, with total operating costs expected to rise by 18% year-over-year [12]. - The medical care ratio is estimated at 90.82%, up from 85.2% in the previous year, indicating higher medical costs [13]. Stock Performance and Valuation - UnitedHealth's stock has increased by 28.2% over the past three months, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500 [14]. - The stock is currently trading at 21 times forward 12-month earnings, above the industry average of 16.65 times, reflecting investor confidence in the company's long-term stability [16]. Strategic Positioning - Despite short-term challenges, UnitedHealth's long-term fundamentals remain strong, supported by its scale, diversified portfolio, and strategic positioning in the managed care industry [18]. - Management's proactive measures, including disciplined cost control and operational optimization, aim to protect profitability and maintain financial flexibility [19]. Investment Outlook - The company is well-positioned to navigate current challenges, with strong execution and expanding memberships offering a compelling opportunity for investors seeking steady growth and stability [21].

Core Insights - Molina Healthcare experienced a significant stock decline of over 17% following its quarterly earnings report, contrasting with a positive market trend where the S&P 500 gained 0.6% [1] Financial Performance - In Q3, Molina's total revenue reached nearly $11.5 billion, marking an 11% year-over-year increase, but net income fell sharply to $97 million ($1.84 per share) from $347 million in the previous year [2][3] - The company surpassed the average analyst revenue estimate of $10.94 billion but significantly missed the consensus for adjusted net income, which was projected at $3.91 per share [3] Business Segments - CEO Joseph Zubretsky indicated that approximately half of the company's underperformance was attributed to the marketplace business, while Medicaid maintained strong margins despite some pressure [3] Future Guidance - Molina revised its 2025 guidance, slightly increasing the revenue forecast to $44.5 billion but lowering the adjusted net profit estimate to $742 million, or about $14 per share, which still falls short of analyst expectations of just under $45.6 billion and $18.62 per share [4][6]

Core Insights - Molina Healthcare Inc. shares experienced a significant decline of 19.34% to $157.39 in after-hours trading following the release of its third-quarter earnings [1] Financial Performance - The company reported third-quarter GAAP earnings of $1.51 per diluted share, a decrease from $5.65 in the same quarter last year [2] - Adjusted earnings were $1.84 per share, down from $6.01 year-over-year [2] - Premium revenue increased by 12% year-over-year, reaching $10.8 billion [2] Medical Care Ratios - The consolidated medical care ratio (MCR) for Q3 rose to 92.6%, up from 89.2% a year earlier [3] - Medicaid MCR was reported at 92.0%, Medicare at 93.6%, and Marketplace at 95.6% [3] Earnings Contribution - Medicaid contributed $3.52 per diluted share to adjusted earnings, while losses from Medicare and Marketplace amounted to $1.68 per share [4] Full-Year Guidance - The company revised its premium revenue forecast to approximately $42.5 billion and expects full-year 2025 adjusted earnings of around $14 per diluted share [5] - The outlook change is attributed to rising medical costs across all segments, with the Marketplace business facing "unprecedented" cost trends [5] Preliminary Outlook for 2026 - The preliminary outlook for adjusted earnings per share in 2026 is expected to be similar to the full-year 2025 guidance, with reduced exposure to the Marketplace [6] Stock Performance - Molina Healthcare's stock has declined 32.96% year-to-date in 2025, trading within a range of $151.95 to $359.97 [7] - The company has a market capitalization of $10.58 billion, an average daily volume of 1.04 million shares, and a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.62 [7]

Group 1 - Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright raised the price target on CVS Health (CVS) to $89 from $82, maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares [1] - Last week's Stars results were described as "encouraging" for the sector, indicating a positive sentiment shift [1] - Managed Care Organization sentiment has "improved slightly," but there remains a need for further validation as focus shifts to utilization and early insights on 2026 [1]

Market Overview - U.S. equities showed upward momentum in Q3, with the S&P 500 Index increasing by 8.1% and the Russell Midcap Growth Index rising by 2.8% [2] - Investor optimism was driven by favorable tariff outcomes, the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, anticipated interest rate cuts, and strong corporate earnings [2] Strategy Performance - The ClearBridge Growth Strategy outperformed its benchmark for the second consecutive quarter, supported by diversified growth contributors [3] - Key themes driving performance included artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency, with significant gains from holdings like Broadcom, AppLovin, Palantir, and Robinhood [3][4] Sector Contributions - Strong stock selection and strategic sector positioning were pivotal, with Broadcom's announcement of a new customer for its AI-focused XPU chips highlighting its market leadership [4] - L3Harris benefited from increased demand in defense spending, while TKO secured a lucrative deal with Paramount for UFC rights, showcasing the value of premium content [5] Portfolio Positioning - The strategy maintained a disciplined approach by trimming winners and reallocating capital into new opportunities, adding four new positions during the quarter [8] - Notable additions included On Holding, a premium footwear designer, and Roblox, a leading user-generated gaming platform, both expected to drive strong revenue growth [9][10] Individual Stock Performance - Leading contributors to performance included AppLovin, TE Connectivity, Broadcom, Robinhood, and L3Harris, while detractors were Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Chipotle, and HubSpot [20] - The strategy closed positions in Paylocity and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, reflecting a focus on evolving investment theses [20] Outlook - The strategy aims to maintain a balanced portfolio to capture upside in strong markets while providing downside protection during volatility [16] - The focus remains on monitoring stock-specific and sector allocations, reallocating capital to opportunities with attractive risk-reward profiles [17]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks maintained momentum in Q3, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching new records due to improved confidence from tariffs, legislative actions, and a Federal Reserve rate cut [3] - Strong earnings from major companies in communication services, information technology, and consumer discretionary sectors contributed to the market rally [3] Sector Performance - Information Technology sector outperformed, particularly semiconductor companies like Broadcom, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor, driven by increased spending on artificial intelligence [4] - Health care stocks faced regulatory pressures, but companies like UnitedHealth and Thermo Fisher Scientific showed resilience, offsetting weaknesses in others like Novo Nordisk [5] - Utilities sector, led by Sempra, saw double-digit gains as it regained investor confidence and strengthened its financial position [6] - Communication services faced challenges, with Alphabet performing well but Comcast struggling with market share losses [7] - Financials experienced slight underperformance, with a shift from U.S. Bancorp to PNC due to better execution confidence [8] - Materials sector faced demand softness, particularly in China and Europe, impacting companies like Air Products and Deere [9] Portfolio Positioning - The strategy has been adjusted to address underperformance, focusing on high-quality companies and reducing exposure to high-volatility stocks [10][11] - A tighter risk framework has been implemented, monitoring key performance indicators to enhance decision-making [11] Outlook - The market outlook remains cautiously optimistic, emphasizing high-quality companies with durable business models amid rising inflation and interest rates [13] - The investment landscape is shifting, with opportunities in overlooked, high-quality businesses as capital flows away from high-growth stocks [13] Portfolio Highlights - The ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy outperformed its benchmark, with positive contributions from IT, health care, and utilities sectors [14] - Stock selection and sector allocation were key drivers of outperformance, particularly in IT and health care [15] - Top contributors included Sempra, Broadcom, and Taiwan Semiconductor, while detractors included Deere and Novo Nordisk [16]

Core Insights - Heartland Mid Cap Value Fund's portfolio increased by 1.63% in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell Midcap® Value Index which gained 6.18% due to stock selection issues [1] - The market trends from Q2 accelerated, driven by optimism around the AI boom and rising electricity demand, leading to significant gains in large- and mid-cap growth stocks regardless of their business model quality or valuation [1] Company Analysis: Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) - Centene Corporation, a healthcare enterprise, experienced a one-month return of 9.56% but has lost 50.95% of its value over the past 52 weeks, closing at $35.76 per share with a market capitalization of $17.563 billion on October 10, 2025 [2] - Centene was the worst-performing holding for the fund in Q3 2025, facing challenges from a policy-induced risk pool shift in the ACA Healthcare Exchanges, which negatively impacted profit margins and led to a pre-announced earnings cut [3] - The company is taking aggressive pricing actions to restore margins and provided a positive update on its action plan in September, which helped shares recover from a sharp selloff in July [3] - The stock is currently trading at 11 times the 2026 earnings estimates, which appear increasingly achievable based on recent updates [3]