CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is among the cheap healthcare stocks to buy heading into 2026. On December 4, Bernstein SocGen Group lifted the price target on CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) to $86.00 from $77.00, while reaffirming a ‘Market Perform’ rating on the stock. The firm attributed the improved guidance to the company’s Aetna business unit, while acknowledging lingering pressures in its Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) segment. According to Bernstein, CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is “exec ...

Group 1 - CVS Health will hold a conference call on October 29, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2025 financial results [1] - As of June 30, 2025, CVS Health operates approximately 9,000 retail locations and more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics [2] - The company serves around 87 million plan members through its pharmacy benefits manager and over 37 million people through various health insurance products [2] Group 2 - CVS Health's integrated model focuses on personalized, technology-driven services to enhance access to quality care and improve health outcomes while lowering costs [2] - Omnicare, a subsidiary of CVS Health, has initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 process to resolve financial issues [3] - Aetna, a CVS Health company, is expanding its Clinical Collaboration program to ten hospitals by the end of the year [4]

Core Insights - ADP has nominated Karen S. Lynch and Robert H. Swan to its Board of Directors ahead of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on November 12, 2025 [1] - Lynch brings over three decades of experience in the healthcare industry, having served as President and CEO of CVS Health Corporation from 2021 to 2024 [1] - Swan has extensive operational and financial expertise, previously serving as CEO and CFO of Intel Corporation and holding senior roles at eBay and General Electric [2] Company Strategy - The nominations are aimed at enhancing ADP's strategic priorities, focusing on the integration of new technologies and adapting to shifting workplace dynamics [1] - ADP's leadership emphasizes the importance of providing clients with user-friendly HCM technology that offers smart insights and a human-centric experience [1] Leadership Background - Karen S. Lynch has held various leadership roles, including Executive Vice President at CVS Health and President of Aetna, and is currently a director at Thermo Fisher Scientific [1] - Robert H. Swan has a diverse background in technology and finance, with experience as CFO at multiple companies and currently serving as a director at Micron Technology and Nike [2]

Market Overview - The market faced challenges as technology and semiconductor stocks experienced significant selling, raising concerns about high valuations and the sustainability of the AI-driven rally [1] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices declined by 0.24% and 0.67%, respectively, indicating a cautious market sentiment [1] - There is a shift in focus towards value stocks due to the current market conditions [1] Value Stocks Evaluation - The Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio is highlighted as an effective metric for evaluating value stocks, with companies like StoneCo Ltd. (STNE), CVS Health Corporation (CVS), Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR), and USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (USNA) showing low P/CF ratios [2][10] - A low P/CF ratio indicates a favorable market price relative to the cash flow generated per share, making it a reliable indicator of financial health [5][10] Financial Health Indicators - Positive cash flow is essential for a company's liquidity, enabling it to manage debts, reinvest, and return value to shareholders, while negative cash flow indicates declining liquidity [7] - Analysts emphasize that cash flow is a more reliable measure than earnings, which can be influenced by accounting estimates and management practices [6] Value Investing Strategy - A comprehensive approach to value investing should include multiple metrics such as price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and price-to-sales ratio, alongside the P/CF ratio [8] - Stocks should be selected based on parameters like P/CF less than or equal to the industry median, a minimum price of $5, and a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 for better performance potential [9][11][13] Company Performance Highlights - StoneCo has a Zacks Rank of 1, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.5%, and is projected to see sales and EPS growth of 7.6% and 10.4%, respectively [13][14] - CVS Health holds a Zacks Rank of 2, with a trailing earnings surprise of 22.6%, and is expected to grow sales and EPS by 4.7% and 16.6%, respectively [15] - Integer Holdings, also with a Zacks Rank of 2, anticipates sales and EPS growth of 7.8% and 20.4%, despite a 13.2% decline in share price over the past year [16] - USANA Health Sciences has a Zacks Rank of 2, with a trailing earnings surprise of 21.6%, and is projected to grow sales and EPS by 11.7% and 1.2%, respectively, despite a 21.1% decline in share price [17]

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 436.36 points, or 0.98%, closing at 44,023.29, amid rising inflation concerns and mixed earnings from major banks [2] - The Consumer Price Index increased by 0.3% month over month, indicating potential cost impacts from recent tariff policies [1] Value Investing Insights - Current market conditions suggest a renewed focus on value investing, emphasizing companies with strong fundamentals, stable cash flows, and reasonable valuations [2] - The Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio is highlighted as an effective valuation metric, with a lower ratio indicating better value and strong cash generation potential [3][4] Company Performance and Projections - Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) is projected to have sales growth of 9.7% and EPS growth of 43.8% this year, with shares rising 18.9% in the past year [9][14] - CVS Health Corporation (CVS) expects 3.4% sales growth and 12.9% EPS growth, with shares increasing by 3.8% over the past year [9][14] - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) anticipates 8% sales growth and 17% EPS growth, although shares have declined by 3.7% in the past year [16] - Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) forecasts 10.1% sales growth and 5% EPS growth, with shares rising 6.3% in the past year [17] Investment Strategy Parameters - Parameters for selecting true-value stocks include a P/CF less than or equal to the industry median, a minimum stock price of $5, and an average 20-day volume greater than 100,000 [8] - Additional metrics for screening include P/E, P/B, and P/S ratios, with a PEG ratio of less than 1 indicating undervaluation [10][11]

Core Points - CVS Health's board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.665 per share on its Common Stock [1] - The dividend is scheduled to be paid on May 1, 2025, to shareholders on record as of April 22, 2025 [1] Company Overview - CVS Health is a leading health solutions company that aims to improve community health across America [1] - The company employs over 300,000 colleagues, including more than 40,000 healthcare professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners [1] - CVS Health focuses on managing chronic diseases, medication compliance, and providing affordable health and wellness services [1] - The company emphasizes improving access to healthcare, lowering costs, and being a trusted partner in health management [1]