On Monday, Evercore ISI has updated its outlook on CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) shares, raising the price target from $60.00 to $65.00 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The adjustment comes in anticipation of future performance dynamics, particularly relating to the 2026 Medicare Advantage Rate Notice. With a current market capitalization of $68.65 billion and trading at a P/E ratio of 13.8x, InvestingPro analysis indicates that CVS Health is currently undervalued relative to its Fair Value.
The firm's analyst, Elizabeth Anderson, noted that despite the forward-looking nature of the 2026 performance dynamic, the current year's outlook for CVS Health remains stable. The commentary from Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) suggests that cost trends are as expected, showing elevated but stable figures. This stability is reflected in the broader analyst consensus, with CVS maintaining a "Buy" recommendation and analyst targets ranging from $48.01 to $93.00 per share.
Evercore ISI's analysis indicates that 2025 is expected to be a year of stabilization or slight improvement for CVS Health's Health Care Benefits (HCB) segment. The firm forecasts an approximate operating income of $300 million for the segment in 2025. The analyst believes that 2026 will mark a significant turning point in CVS Health's performance, with potential for even greater upside than the revised figures suggest.
The updated assessment by Evercore ISI is based on the overall tracking of the Pharmacy Services (PCW) and Health Services Segments (HSS), which are performing in line with expectations. The firm's positive outlook is largely focused on anticipated improvements in the Health Care Benefits (HCB) segment of CVS Health's business. The company has shown strong momentum with a 23.06% year-to-date return, and InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed analysis including 8 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial metrics in the Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, Elevance Health reported positive quarterly results, including a lower-than-expected medical-loss ratio (MLR), which led to a positive sentiment across the health insurance sector. The company also reported a 6% increase in operating revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 and a 3% increase for the full year compared to the previous year. Looking ahead, Elevance Health anticipates GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) to be in the range of $30.40 to $31.10 and adjusted diluted EPS to be in the range of $34.15 to $34.85 for FY 2025.
In other developments, Piper Sandler affirmed a positive stance on CVS Health shares, maintaining an Overweight rating. The firm's analysis highlighted the potential for Medicare Advantage margin expansion in Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) and predicted a significant improvement in the medical loss ratio (MLR) year-over-year in CY25.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report indicating that major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including Caremark Rx, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, have significantly marked up prices on specialty generic drugs. This practice resulted in over $7.3 billion in revenue from 2017 to 2022.
Shares of Humana (NYSE:HUM), UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), and CVS Health climbed following a government proposal that could lead to increased payments for Medicare Advantage plans in 2026. The proposed payment boost could result in an additional $21 billion in payments in 2026 compared to expected payments in 2025.
Lastly, as the number of seasonal flu cases increases, vaccine manufacturers, including Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX), have advanced in premarket trading. Pharmacy chains and hospital firms, including Walgreens and CVS Health, are also being monitored as the flu season progresses. These are the recent developments in the healthcare sector.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.