CVS Health má podle peněžního toku bezpečně krytou dividendu: v roce 2025 pokrylo volné peněžní toky výplatu více než 2,3×. Čtvrtletní dividenda zůstává na 0,665 USD už 10 čtvrtletí.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS | CVS Price Prediction) shares closed at $106.89 on July 23, 2026, up 78.2% over the past year. The rally has compressed the yield, but income investors still want to know how safe the payout is.
The Dividend at a Glance CVS pays a quarterly dividend of $0.665, or $2.66 annualized, translating to a forward yield of roughly 2.5%. The next payment lands August 3, 2026. Notably, the quarterly rate has been held at $0.665 for 10 consecutive quarters, meaning the company has paused raises while working through its turnaround. Yet there have been no dividend cuts in the company’s 27-year history.
Cash Flow Coverage: The Core Test Coverage looks comfortable. In FY 2025, operating cash flow was $10.64 billion, against $3.40 billion in common dividends, a payout ratio of 31.9%. After $2.83 billion in capital spending, free cash flow of roughly $7.8 billion covered the dividend more than 2.3x. Management raised its 2026 operating cash flow guidance to at least $9.5 billion, and adjusted EPS guidance to $7.30 to $7.50, well above the annualized $2.66 payout.
Earnings Momentum Is Building Q1 2026 reinforced the recovery. Adjusted EPS came in at $2.57 versus a $2.21 consensus, a 16.3% beat and the fifth consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue reached $100.43 billion, up 6.2% year over year, and Aetna’s medical benefit ratio improved to 84.6% from 87.3%. CEO David Joyner said, “Our positive performance is driven by strong execution across our enterprise.”
The Risks That Could Pressure the Payout The balance sheet still bears scars from the Aetna acquisition. Total liabilities stand at $175.34 billion against $77.64 billion in shareholder equity, and net interest expense of $3.12 billion in FY 2025 remains a material drag. FY 2025 also absorbed a $5.7 billion goodwill impairment tied to Health Care Delivery, approximately $1.2 billion in legacy litigation charges, and the Chapter 11 filing of Omnicare in September 2025. Q3 2025 alone produced operating losses of $3.2 billion, a reminder that volatility persists. Insider selling has also topped $323.7 million over the past three months.
The Verdict Coverage metrics point to a well-funded dividend: a payout ratio near 32% of operating cash flow, free cash flow of nearly $7.8 billion, and rising 2026 guidance. The frozen quarterly rate signals caution rather than distress. Investors should monitor Aetna’s medical cost trend, PBM regulation, and interest expense as the variables most likely to test that safety cushion.
If You'd Bought Amazon When the Motley Fool Said To…In September 2002, Stock Advisor told subscribers to buy Amazon. In December 2004, Netflix. In April 2005, Nvidia. The newsletter still publishes two new stock picks every month — and over 23 years, has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. Here's how to get this month's picks:
- Join Stock Advisor for one year, with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Get this month's two new picks — plus the Top 10 Rankings and the full historical pick list
- Read the analysis, decide for yourself, and trade through your own brokerage
Five years from now, you'll probably wish you'd bought this month's picks. Don't miss them.
Arvest Bank Trust Division ve 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila podíl v CVS Health o 2 401,7 % na 66 945 akcií za 4,808 milionu USD. CVS zároveň oznámila čtvrtletní dividendu ve výši 0,665 USD na akcii.
Arvest Bank Trust Division increased its holdings in CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS – Free Report) by 2,401.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 66,945 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 64,269 shares during the quarter. Arvest Bank Trust Division’s holdings in CVS Health were worth $4,808,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in CVS Health by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 120,709,530 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $9,579,508,000 after buying an additional 1,824,424 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in CVS Health by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,183,743 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $4,776,182,000 after buying an additional 1,245,457 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its position in CVS Health by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 27,592,356 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $2,189,793,000 after buying an additional 900,153 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in CVS Health in the fourth quarter valued at $1,666,265,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 6.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 20,373,774 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $1,616,863,000 after acquiring an additional 1,211,631 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.66% of the company’s stock.
CVS Health Stock Up 2.6% CVS Health stock opened at $110.40 on Wednesday. CVS Health Corporation has a twelve month low of $58.50 and a twelve month high of $110.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $140.87 billion, a PE ratio of 48.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.61. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $99.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $85.58.
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.36. CVS Health had a net margin of 0.72% and a return on equity of 11.88%. The company had revenue of $100.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $94.99 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.25 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.300-7.500 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that CVS Health Corporation will post 7.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.
CVS Health Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd will be given a $0.665 dividend. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 23rd. CVS Health’s dividend payout ratio is presently 117.18%.
Insider Activity In related news, Director Larry Robbins sold 1,983,538 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.45, for a total value of $187,345,164.10. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,213,261 shares in the company, valued at approximately $586,842,501.45. This represents a 24.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Tilak Mandadi sold 69,551 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.58, for a total transaction of $6,230,378.58. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 10,133 shares in the company, valued at approximately $907,714.14. The trade was a 87.28% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,441,551 shares of company stock worth $323,703,977. Insiders own 0.85% of the company’s stock.
Key Headlines Impacting CVS Health Here are the key news stories impacting CVS Health this week:
Positive Sentiment: CVS announced that common prescription medications for dogs and cats are now available at its roughly 9,000 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide, expanding the chain’s role beyond human prescriptions and potentially adding a small but incremental revenue stream while increasing store traffic. Pet medications now available at CVS Pharmacy® Positive Sentiment: Market commentary highlighted that CVS has been outperforming the broader market, reflecting continued investor confidence in the company’s ongoing operational improvement and turnaround efforts. CVS Health (CVS) Surpasses Market Returns: Some Facts Worth Knowing Positive Sentiment: Another report echoed the same outperformance theme, noting CVS’s strong trading versus the market and suggesting that investors remain focused on the company’s improving fundamentals. CVS Health (CVS) Surpasses Market Returns: Some Facts Worth Knowing Neutral Sentiment: A longer-form analysis argued CVS is still in the middle of a meaningful turnaround, with improving margins, declining leverage, and strong cash flow, but it also noted the stock is no longer viewed as a deep bargain after its rally. CVS Health Update: The C- Student Now Pulling Down A B+ Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently issued reports on CVS shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on CVS Health from $103.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of CVS Health from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. HSBC reissued a “hold” rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Monday, July 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of CVS Health from $101.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on CVS Health from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $105.38.
Get Our Latest Analysis on CVS Health
CVS Health Company Profile (Free Report)
CVS Health Corporation is a diversified healthcare company that operates a large network of retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefit management services and health care solutions. Headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the company traces its roots to the early 1960s and has grown into an integrated provider of prescription drugs, over‑the‑counter products, clinical services and health insurance offerings. Its operating model combines retail pharmacy locations and in‑store clinics with broader pharmacy and health plan capabilities.
Key business activities include CVS Pharmacy retail operations, MinuteClinic walk‑in medical clinics and HealthHUB locations that offer expanded clinical services.
Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than CVS Health Confidence Is Back, But Earnings Show the Consumer Is Being Picky AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off 3M’s Redemption Arc: Can Q2 Earnings Change the Narrative? 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS – Free Report).
Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pharmacy-focused sites to open in select communities to help increase access to pharmacy care
Openings are part of ongoing commitment to serve communities and meet consumers where they are
, /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) today unveiled its first pharmacy-focused CVS Pharmacy® in Houston. The new pharmacy, located at 8503A Gulf Freeway in south Houston, will help bridge gaps in pharmacy care and make it easier for community members to access medications, immunizations and other health care services provided by pharmacists.
CVS Pharmacy opens first pharmacy-focused location in Houston, TX. Nearly 20 pharmacy-focused locations will open in select communities across the country, increasing access to vital pharmacy care. Each site will feature a full-service pharmacy with a customized selection of over-the-counter products available for purchase. With footprints averaging around 3,000 square feet, the pharmacy-focused locations will help ensure patients have access to prescription medications and the trusted advice and counsel of their neighborhood CVS pharmacist.
"Community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals in the communities they serve," said Sid Tenneti, Senior Vice President and Interim President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health. "Our new pharmacy-focused locations optimize how we engage with communities by expanding access to trusted care, clinical expertise, and personalized support. We help people get the guidance, medications, and pharmacy care services they need where, when and how they need it most."
Multiple pharmacy formats to meet community health needs
The new pharmacy-focused locations are just one component of the company's work to reinvent pharmacy. By taking a customized approach focused on the diverse needs of the communities they serve, CVS Pharmacy has worked to strategically realign its retail footprint over the last few years. The new pharmacies will help the company better support its patients in those communities, ensuring its footprint is the right size and scale, and addressing shifts in the pharmacy industry.
These smaller neighborhood pharmacies join several other formats already in place across the country. They include CVS Pharmacy's traditional full-service front store and pharmacy locations, store-in-store pharmacies, such as those inside Target and Schnucks grocery stores, CVS Pharmacy stores that feature a MinuteClinic retail medical clinic, and side-by-side CVS Pharmacy and Oak Street Health care centers, primarily located in neighborhoods with high Medicaid populations.
The company has opened pharmacy-focused locations in Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, and in Washington, D.C. In addition to the new site near the Gulf Freeway, two additional pharmacy-focused locations are planned in the greater Houston area over the next year. The company also plans to open more than 40 new CVS Pharmacy locations, including traditional stores and pharmacies in Target.
Importance of one-on-one interactions with pharmacists
The 2025 CVS Health® Rx Report highlighted that 80% of patients prefer face-to-face pharmacy care, and nearly half (48%) would switch pharmacies if limited to digital-only options. The overwhelming majority of pharmacy professionals (97%) also say in-person interactions remain vital.
Added Tenneti, "Access to local, timely health care matters – which is why, whether in-person, online, or a combination of the two, our community pharmacists provide trusted counsel and best-in-class service through consistent, personalized experiences that focus on helping patients become their healthiest."
"In the expansive Greater Houston metropolitan area, being able to walk into any of our pharmacies, speak directly with a pharmacist, and have in-person access to pharmacy services is important," Thanh Hoang, Pharmacy Manager, CVS Pharmacy. "Our pharmacists live and work within the communities they serve and because authentic connections are created through meaningful interactions, patients and customers trust their local pharmacy teams."
Whether a patient prefers the convenience of same-day or 1- to 2-day prescription delivery or prefers to visit their local pharmacy in-person, CVS Pharmacy is ensuring patients have multiple care options to choose from, depending on their individual needs.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family and one community at a time. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 88 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company's integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.
Media contacts
Shannon Dillon
346-291-7131
[email protected]
CVS Health se dohodla s FTC, že nákupy přes TrumpRx se budou započítávat do některých spoluúčastí a omezí modely rabatů. Firma také omezuje náklady z vlastní kapsy na inzulin na 25 USD měsíčně.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to an event to unveil the TrumpRx drug discount site, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 5, 2026.... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
SummaryCompaniesSettlement would count TrumpRx purchases toward some plan deductiblesCVS must offer clients an option to opt out of rebate payment models, the FTC saidCVS said it would cap insulin out-of-pocket costs at $25 per monthNEW YORK, July 14 (Reuters) - CVS Health's (CVS.N), opens new tab Caremark has finalized a settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in which it agreed to curb use of after-market discounts known as rebates and count consumers' TrumpRx purchases toward their deductibles, an FTC spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Similar to Cigna's settlement with the FTC earlier this year, the deal would curb practices critics say contribute to high drug costs. It would also require CVS' Caremark pharmacy benefit manager to include a patient's payments through the TrumpRx drug website toward the deductibles some of its health plans require, once regulations are in place to facilitate the TrumpRx program.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
The settlement is expected to bring billions of dollars in savings on drug prices, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement.
“The FTC under President Trump won’t stand for anticompetitive behavior that drives up prices for American consumers,” Ferguson said.
U.S. President Donald Trump launched TrumpRx.gov, a website offering hundreds of generic and branded drugs at a discount, in February, with a particular focus on connecting consumers with low prices for highly popular weight-loss drugs from Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab and Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), opens new tab.
Health plan deductibles are the minimum spend members must reach before leveraging their coverage. TrumpRx.gov sends cash-pay customers to drugmaker websites for discounted drugs, but has operated outside of insurance, limiting its value for some American consumers.
CVS must also provide an option to clients that allows them to opt out of rebate payment models, a spokesperson for the FTC said. These rebates are paid by drugmakers to the pharmacy benefit manager and may or may not be passed on to the plan sponsor or consumer after a certain drug is dispensed.
Small pharmacies would also be given the option to be reimbursed for the actual cost of drugs they dispense plus a fee, in a bid to address complaints that pharmacy benefit managers do not fully reimburse independent local pharmacies.
“Today’s agreement advances and reinforces the changes we have already put in place and ensures affordability for families and patients across the country," said Ed DeVaney, a president at Caremark.
The decision to eliminate rebates will vary based on the client and how individual employers choose to structure their own pharmacy benefit, a spokesperson for CVS said. But the company aims to encourage its clients to pass through discounts to individual members, CVS said in a release on Tuesday.
The FTC's original lawsuit, launched in 2024, said Caremark, Cigna's (CI.N), opens new tab Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth's OptumRx (UNH.N), opens new tab forced patients to pay higher prices for insulin.
CVS reached a proposed settlement with the regulator in March, and the FTC said the deal was similar to one with Express Scripts.
Regulators have said the rebate model incentivizes companies to raise list prices and ultimately steers customers to pricier drugs.
Pharmacy benefit managers negotiate the price of drugs with manufacturers, on behalf of plan sponsors, such as employers.
CVS will also enhance its reporting on the price of drugs and member payments it receives, shift to a fee-based compensation structure, and cap out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month, the company said.
Reporting by Amina Niasse and Jody Godoy in New York; editing by Caroline Humer and Aurora Ellis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Jody Godoy reports on tech policy and antitrust enforcement, including how regulators are responding to the rise of AI. Reach her at [email protected]
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) has announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of sixty-six and one-half cents ($0.665 cents) per share on the Common Stock of the Corporation. The dividend is payable on August 3, 2026, to holders of record on July 23, 2026.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family and one community at a time. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 88 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company's integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.
Media contact
Ethan Slavin
860-273-6095
[email protected]
Investor contact
Larry McGrath
800-201-0938
[email protected]
In the latest close session, CVS Health (CVS - Free Report) was down 1.59% at $102.81. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.81%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.27%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 1.3%.
The drugstore chain and pharmacy benefits manager's stock has climbed by 6.58% in the past month, falling short of the Medical sector's gain of 7% and outpacing the S&P 500's gain of 1.13%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of CVS Health in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on August 5, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.86, signifying a 2.76% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $100.18 billion, reflecting a 1.28% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $7.44 per share and revenue of $409 billion, which would represent changes of +10.22% and +1.72%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for CVS Health. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Currently, CVS Health is carrying a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
With respect to valuation, CVS Health is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 14.05. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 15.57.
We can also see that CVS currently has a PEG ratio of 1.02. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The average PEG ratio for the Medical Services industry stood at 1.46 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Medical Services industry is part of the Medical sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 96, which puts it in the top 40% of all 250+ industries.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
CVS těží z konsolidace ve zdravotním pojištění, zatímco Walgreens a Rite Aid ustupují. RBC zvýšila cílovou cenu a společnost v Q1 2026 zvýšila celoroční upravený EPS výhled na 7,30–7,50 USD.
Jim Cramer used his July 9, 2026 CNBC Stop Trading segment to plant a flag on managed care, framing CVS Health (NYSE:CVS | CVS Price Prediction) as the consolidation winner in a sector where insurers are finally getting paid for the risks they underwrite. RBC raised its price target on CVS Health, and Cramer connected that call to a broader thesis: with rivals shrinking and premiums climbing, the operators still standing have real pricing power.
“The real bull market here has been for the last month the UNH managed care insurance business,” Cramer said. He added, “We had Walgreens basically disappearing. We had Rite Aid disappearing. We have CVS, CVS redoing the front of the store and CVS doing a terrific job with Aetna.” Cramer expected meaningful pricing power to return: “The price increases in DRAM and price increases in health insurance are going to be double-digit.”
For investors looking to build lifelong dividend income, our Free Report: Never Touch the Principal, explains how to structure a portfolio that pays you consistently and dependably without ever drawing down your principal.
Cramer Says CVS Is the Biggest Winner From Industry Consolidation The retail pharmacy shakeout has been a big tailwind for CVS. With Walgreens and Rite Aid stepping back, CVS captures more front-of-store foot traffic and prescriptions, flowing straight into an insurance and pharmacy benefit engine that just had its best quarter in years.
In Q1 2026, CVS posted adjusted EPS of $2.57 versus a $2.21 consensus on revenue of $100.43 billion. The Aetna-anchored Health Care Benefits segment saw adjusted operating income climb 52.6% year over year to $3.04 billion, while the medical benefit ratio improved to 84.6% from 87.3%. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $7.30-$7.50 and lifted the operating cash flow target to at least $9.5 billion.
CVS shares are up 7.61% over the past month and 61.69% over the past year, trading around $104.72. The average analyst price target sits around $107.73, with 24 buy or strong buy ratings against just four holds. The stock’s forward P/E is about 14x, which still represents a discount to the group despite the run.
UnitedHealth Shows Why Pricing Power Is Returning UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) is the clearest evidence that Cramer’s double-digit thesis holds. Management explicitly cited “repricing across all lines of business in response to elevated but in-line cost trends” as the driver of Q1 2026 margin expansion. The medical cost ratio improved 90 basis points to 83.9%, and adjusted EPS came in at $7.23 versus a $6.61 consensus. Full-year adjusted EPS guidance was raised to greater than $18.25.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and UnitedHealth Group didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
UNH is willingly shedding members. Guidance calls for UnitedHealthcare enrollment of 46.9 to 47.5 million, down from 49.8 million in 2025, as the company exits unprofitable contracts. Shares are up 5.27% in the past month and 42.03% over the past year. Polymarket traders currently price in a 71% probability that UNH will beat its next quarterly earnings report, due July 16.
Humana Is Benefiting From Better Medicare Economics Humana (NYSE:HUM) rounds out the trio. Q1 2026 revenue jumped 23.5% year over year to $39.65 billion, with individual Medicare Advantage membership up roughly 1.14 million, or 22% year to date. The insurance segment benefit ratio landed at 89.4%, favorable to guidance. Humana shares have led the group over the past month, rising 11.58%, and are up 55.89% year to date.
FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance of at least $9.00 steps down from the prior year’s $17.14, reflecting the bonus-payment reset. Cramer’s argument is that improved CMS benchmark funding and IRA-driven Part D subsidies could pull the sector back toward equilibrium faster than bears expect.
What to Watch Next Cramer’s thesis ultimately comes down to pricing power. As weaker competitors shrink or disappear and insurers reprice policies to reflect higher healthcare costs, the industry’s earnings outlook appears far healthier than it did a year ago.
The next major test arrives with UnitedHealth’s earnings on July 16, followed by updates from CVS and Humana later in the quarter. Investors will be watching whether improving medical cost ratios and higher premiums continue translating into stronger margins across the sector.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and UnitedHealth Group didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
CVS spustila GLP-1 program ve více než 9 000 lékárnách v USA, s virtuálními návštěvami za 49 USD a léky už od 25 USD měsíčně pro pojištěné, nebo od 149 USD měsíčně pro nepojištěné. Bank of America po oznámení zvýšila cílovou cenu akcie na 110 USD z 100 USD.
The market for weight-loss drugs, led by GLP-1 medicines like Wegovy, is on a rapid northbound trajectory. One good way to capitalize on it is to invest in pharmaceutical companies that currently lead this niche or have the potential to establish a strong foothold. However, it isn't just drugmakers that may profit from the rapid rise of the GLP-1 category. Other companies across the healthcare delivery funnel could also see increased sales and profits thanks to this trend, and CVS Health (CVS 0.26%), a leading pharmacy chain, is one of them. The company recently announced a GLP-1 program that had Wall Street buzzing, as some analysts think the move makes the stock more attractive. Should investors consider buying CVS Health's shares right now?
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Making GLP-1 medicines more accessible Weight-loss drugs haven't been easy for patients to obtain. One of the main reasons for that is cost. GLP-1 medicines are expensive. Even with recent price drops, they can cost several hundred dollars per month -- a meaningful hit to many patients' budgets. And since insurance coverage for these therapies for weight loss has been spotty at best, many are left having to forego them, even when they need them. Further, some physicians have been somewhat hesitant to prescribe GLP-1s to patients due to coverage issues and other factors. And even when patients start taking these medicines, a meaningful number experience uncomfortable side effects that make their weight loss journeys challenging.
Enter CVS Health. The company recently announced a program to help patients through all this, available at its more than 9,000 pharmacies across the U.S. CVS Health will offer virtual visits priced at $49 with clinicians who can evaluate patients and prescribe GLP-1 medicines. The drugs will cost as little as $25 per month for patients with insurance coverage, $50 per month for eligible Medicare patients, or will start at $149 monthly for those without insurance. The pharmacy giant will also provide one-on-one professional support and access to over-the-counter products to help people manage side effects.
This initiative could attract many patients to the company's platform and help boost revenue in its retail pharmacy division. Allen Lutz, an analyst at Bank of America (BAC 0.53%), recently raised his price target on the stock to $110 from $100 following these developments. The company's shares are currently trading at about $104 each, so the new price target implies a modest upside from current levels.
Today's Change
(
-0.26
%) $
-0.27
Current Price
$
104.39
Is CVS Health stock a buy? CVS Health has performed well over the past 18 months, after several years of challenges. The company's financial results have improved as it has made significant headway in containing costs within its Medicare Advantage division, where rising expenses were eroding its profits and margins. In the first quarter, CVS Health's revenue grew by a healthy 6% year over year to $100.4 billion, while its adjusted earnings per share rose 14% to $2.57. CVS Health also increased its guidance for the full fiscal year 2026.
The healthcare giant's ability to successfully weather the storm it faced in recent years and bounce back speaks volumes about its resilience as a business. And on top of that, CVS Health also has outstanding long-term prospects. The company's well-known brand name, extensive network of retail locations, and diversified healthcare business spanning pharmacy services, insurance, primary care, and more enable it to remain with patients throughout much of their care journey.
That's exactly what it is doing with its new GLP-1 program: offering consultations, medicines, and insurance coverage for eligible patients, as well as one-on-one follow-up with professionals and over-the-counter medications to help manage side effects. The diversified nature of CVS Health's business grants the company a strong competitive advantage and may help it capitalize on the healthcare sector's expansion over the next few decades, especially as the world's population ages.
Lastly, CVS Health is also a solid dividend stock, with a forward yield currently of 2.5%, compared to the S&P 500's average of 1.1%. The company has increased its payouts by 56.5% over the past decade. All these are good reasons why it's worth it for long-term income seekers to purchase CVS Health's shares.
