Core Insights - Evolent Health, Inc. has announced new leadership appointments to enhance its clinical and financial teams, aiming to innovate in specialty care [1][4] Leadership Additions - Dr. David Lim has been appointed as chief clinical officer, leading a 300-person medical team, with extensive experience in value-based care and technology-enabled healthcare [2][4] - John Way has joined as CFO of Performance Suite, overseeing financial aspects of at-risk specialty condition management products, bringing over 20 years of financial management experience [3][4] Company Vision - Evolent's CEO, Seth Blackley, expressed enthusiasm for the new leaders, highlighting their commitment to transforming specialty care for patients, payers, and providers [4] - The company is recognized for its focus on better health outcomes for complex conditions and is a leading destination for talented leaders in the healthcare field [5]

Core Points - Calian Group Ltd. announced a $250 million amendment to its Health Care Provider Recruitment contract with the Department of National Defence, reinforcing its commitment to the Canadian Armed Forces [1][2][4] - The contract amendment consolidates unspent funds from Option Period 5 with planned funding for Option Period 6, ensuring uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services across CAF clinics [3][4] - Calian's total contract backlog now stands at $1.6 billion, with two-thirds related to its defence business, highlighting the ongoing partnership with government and military organizations [4][5] Company Commitment - Calian has been a reliable partner to Canada's military for over two decades, providing integrated healthcare solutions that are vital for the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces [5][6] - The company emphasizes the importance of health in maintaining operational readiness, stating that a healthy force is essential for resilience [3][5] Services Offered - Calian supports the Department of National Defence with various mission-critical solutions, including healthcare, training and simulation, IT modernization, cybersecurity, satellite communications, and manufacturing and engineering [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of value investing and highlights Molina Healthcare (MOH) as a strong candidate for value investors due to its favorable financial metrics and Zacks Rank [2][4][6]. Company Analysis - Molina Healthcare (MOH) currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and an A grade for Value, indicating strong potential for value investors [4]. - The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.13, significantly lower than the industry average of 11.67, suggesting it may be undervalued [4]. - Over the past year, MOH's Forward P/E has fluctuated between a high of 14.07 and a low of 9.11, with a median of 12.14, indicating volatility but also potential for recovery [4]. - The PEG ratio for MOH is 0.75, compared to the industry average of 1.09, further supporting the notion that the stock is undervalued relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - MOH's PEG ratio has ranged from a high of 1.24 to a low of 0.75 over the past year, with a median of 1.00, reflecting its growth potential [5]. - The combination of these metrics suggests that MOH is an impressive value stock at the moment, bolstered by a strong earnings outlook [6].

Healthcare-first deployment of Corero's CORE ZTAC delivers real-time, zero trust protection across Cooper's digital infrastructure LONDON, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corero Network Security (AIM: CNS) (OTCQX: DDOSF), the distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection specialists, today announced that Cooper University Health Care, South Jersey's leading academic health system, has selected Corero's CORE Zero Trust Admission Control (ZTAC) to strengthen its network access security. The deployment marks th ...

Healthcare Access & Funding - The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" blocks healthcare nonprofits offering abortions from receiving Medicaid funds for other services [1] - This act imposes a one-year moratorium on Medicaid funding for any services provided by clinics that also provide abortions, impacting organizations like Planned Parenthood which serves over 2 million patients annually [1] - Stripping Medicaid funding may force clinics to shut down or slash vital services, especially in communities with limited healthcare access [1] - Blue states that expanded Medicaid to cover more reproductive services will also be significantly affected by the federal funding cut [1] Reproductive Healthcare Consequences - Data indicates that federally qualified health centers and hospitals offering contraceptive care would each need to increase their capacity by over 50% to replace services currently provided by Planned Parenthood [1] - In nine states, facilities would need to increase their caseloads by over 100% to care for patients currently served by Planned Parenthood [1] - Abortion bans have made miscarriage treatment more dangerous, with a 54% increase in women requiring blood transfusions for first-trimester miscarriages in Texas after criminalizing the D&C procedure in 2020 [1] Historical & Political Context - Title 10 and Medicaid funding were part of the civil rights New Deal of the 1960s, aimed at providing healthcare access to the poor [2] - Historically, figures like Prescott Bush and George H W Bush supported initiatives that provided access to healthcare for the poorest Americans [2] - The United States ranks approximately 55th internationally in terms of maternal health and safety [2] Crisis Pregnancy Centers - Conservative efforts are underway to bolster crisis pregnancy centers, which are designed to dissuade women from having abortions and may not provide comprehensive healthcare [2]

Core Viewpoint - HealthEquity (HQY) shares have declined approximately 10.4% over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500, raising questions about the potential for a breakout or continued negative trend leading up to the next earnings release [1] Group 1: Earnings Report and Estimates - The consensus estimate for HealthEquity has increased by 8.01% over the past month, indicating a positive trend in estimates [2] - The stock has received a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting expectations for above-average returns in the coming months [4] Group 2: VGM Scores - HealthEquity has a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of B, indicating strong performance in these areas [3] - The stock has a Value Score of C, placing it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy, contributing to an overall aggregate VGM Score of B [3]

Core Concept - The price-to-book (P/B) ratio is a key metric for value investors to identify undervalued stocks with potential for exceptional returns, calculated as market price per share divided by book value per share [1][5] Understanding Book Value - Book value represents the total value remaining for shareholders if a company were to liquidate its assets after settling all liabilities, calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets [3][4] P/B Ratio Insights - A P/B ratio under 1.0 indicates a potentially undervalued stock, while a ratio above 1.0 suggests overvaluation [5][6] - Stocks with low P/B ratios can indicate strong growth prospects, but a low ratio may also reflect weak asset returns or overstated assets [7][8] Screening Parameters for Value Stocks - Stocks should have a P/B ratio lower than the industry median, a P/S ratio below the industry median, and a P/E ratio using F(1) estimates lower than the industry median [11][12] - A PEG ratio under 1 indicates undervaluation relative to growth prospects, and stocks must trade at a minimum price of $5 [13] - High trading volume and favorable Zacks Rank (1 or 2) are also important criteria for screening [14] Identified Low P/B Stocks - Centene Corporation (CNC) has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 11.5% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [16] - CVS Health (CVS) has a projected EPS growth rate of 11.4% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [16] - The ODP Corporation (ODP) has a projected EPS growth rate of 14% and holds a Zacks Rank of 1 with a Value Score of A [17] - StoneCo (STNE) has a projected EPS growth rate of 25.3% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of B [18] - Paysafe Limited (PSFE) has a projected EPS growth rate of 17.9% and holds a Zacks Rank of 1 with a Value Score of A [19]

Core Viewpoint - Astrana Health, Inc. has successfully completed the acquisition of Prospect Health for $708 million, aiming to enhance its capabilities in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care across the United States [1][3]. Company Overview - Astrana Health is a physician-centric, technology-enabled healthcare company focused on providing accessible, high-quality care [1][7]. - The company supports over 20,000 providers and 1.6 million patients through value-based care arrangements [8]. Acquisition Details - The acquisition of Prospect Health, initially announced at $745 million, was finalized at a reduced price of $708 million, reflecting the company's disciplined capital deployment strategy [3]. - Prospect Health operates a network of over 11,000 providers and serves approximately 600,000 members across various healthcare programs [2]. Financial Impact - Astrana expects Prospect Health to contribute approximately $1.2 billion in total revenue and $81 million in adjusted EBITDA on a full-year basis [4]. - The company has updated its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to between $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $215 million and $225 million [5]. Debt and Financial Management - Following the acquisition, Astrana will have approximately $700 million of net debt and aims to reduce its net leverage ratio to below 2.5x within the next 12 to 18 months [6].

Market Overview - The S&P 500 has rebounded approximately 5.5% in the first half of 2025, recovering from a previous decline of 15.3% [1] - Many stocks are trading near all-time highs, despite some underperformers in the index [2] Deckers Outdoor - Deckers Outdoor is the worst performer in the S&P 500, down 49% in the first half of 2025 [4] - The company reported a 16% year-over-year sales increase, totaling just under $5 billion, and a 30% rise in diluted per-share profit to $6.33 [4] - Concerns over tariffs and trade policies have led to uncertainty, causing the company not to provide full-year guidance [5] - The stock trades at 17 times estimated future profits, below the S&P 500 average of 23, indicating potential as a contrarian buy [6] Enphase Energy - Enphase Energy is down 42% in the first half of 2025, primarily due to uncertainty surrounding solar tax credits [7] - The company reported net revenue of $356.1 million for the first three months of 2025, a 35% increase from the previous year [7] - Enphase has over $1.5 billion in cash and marketable securities, positioning it well for future growth [8] - With a market cap of just over $5 billion, the company has significant potential for future appreciation [9] UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group has seen a nearly 40% decline in value in 2025, impacted by rising costs and investigations into its billing practices [10] - The company missed earnings expectations and withdrew its guidance amid a CEO change [11] - Despite challenges, UnitedHealth generated over $410 billion in revenue and $22 billion in earnings over the past four quarters [12] - The stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 13, presenting a potential opportunity for long-term investors, along with a yield of 2.9% [13]

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to several companies including Asymchem, Weigao, AngelAlign, and Hygeia, while Tigermed is rated as "Neutral" [28]. Core Insights - The momentum in the CDMO sector continues into Q2 2025, with a focus on opportunities arising from China biotech licensing and GLP-1 developments, although revenue potential remains unclear due to technical complexities [2][10]. - The MedTech and Services sectors are experiencing a muted recovery, with ongoing policy headwinds affecting pricing and volumes, but some companies are showing resilience through new product launches and overseas expansion [3][14]. Summary by Sections CDMO/CRO - Q2 order momentum has sustained from Q1, with most companies reporting qualitative trends, while quantitative updates are expected in July/August [9]. - Top-tier CDMOs derive only 10-20% of their revenue from China, limiting the earnings impact from recent biotech licensing deals [2][9]. - Asymchem is favored for margin improvement in FY25, driven by emerging services, particularly in obesity-related modalities [2]. MedTech & Services - Recovery in device and service volumes remains subdued, with DRG/DIP reforms continuing to pressure pricing and volumes, though minimally invasive surgeries are less affected [3][14]. - Weigao is highlighted for its attractive valuation and new product contributions, while AngelAlign is on track for global expansion [3][14]. - Surgical volumes showed mild recovery in 1H25, with expectations for stronger growth in 2H due to easing policy headwinds [14][16]. Services - Ongoing reimbursement and regulatory pressures are challenges, but there are signs of improvement in reimbursement efficiency [17]. - Companies like Gushengtang are shifting towards self-pay services to align with rising demand from the "silver economy" [20]. - M&A sentiment is improving, with companies like Hygeia exploring partnerships for capacity expansion [20]. Guidance - WuXi Apptec expects FY25 revenue growth of 10-15%, while Asymchem anticipates double-digit growth alongside margin improvements [21]. - Weigao projects FY25 revenue growth of 10-15%, and Gushengtang aims for over 25% growth [21].