The Cigna Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and related products and services in the United States. Its Evernorth Health Services segment provides a range of coordinated and point solution health services, including pharmacy benefits, home delivery pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, distribution, and care delivery and management solutions to health plans, employers, government organizations, and health care providers. The company's Cigna Healthcare segment offers medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, dental, and other products and services for insured and self-insured customers; Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Part D plans for seniors, as well as individual health insurance plans; and health care coverage in its international markets, as well as health care benefits for mobile individuals and employees of multinational organizations. In addition, it offers permanent insurance contracts sold to corporations to provide coverage on the lives of certain employees for financing employer-paid future benefit obligations. The company distributes its products and services through insurance brokers and consultants; directly to employers, unions and other groups, or individuals; and private and public exchanges. The company was formerly known as Cigna Corporation and changed its name to The Cigna Group in February 2023. The Cigna Group was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

Компания The Cigna Group демонстрирует смешанную финансовую картину. С одной стороны, P/E, P/S и P/FCF значительно ниже медианных значений по отрасли, что указывает на потенциальную недооцененность акций. Однако, такие показатели как debt/equity ratio и текущий коэффициент далеко от средней по отрасли, что вызывает опасения по поводу долговой нагрузки и ликвидности. Несмотря на это, компания показывает впечатляющий рост выручки и чистой прибыли, что положительно сказывается на оценке. EPS и прогноз EPS значительно превышают медианные значения, что также является позитивным сигналом. Однако снижение текущего и быстрой ликвидности, наряду с отрицательными показателями рентабельности, такими как операционная и чистая маржа, делает оценку компании более сложной. В целом, слабые стороны компании в области ликвидности и долговой нагрузки могут негативно повлиять на ее оценку в краткосрочной перспективе, несмотря на сильные фундаментальные показатели роста.

The Cigna Group

Wall Street analysts expect Cigna (CI) to post quarterly earnings of $7.62 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 13.1%. Revenues are expected to be $66.74 billion, up 2% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone an upward revision of 1.9% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some Cigna metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenues- Evernorth Health Services' at $56.62 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +5.5% from the prior-year quarter.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenues- Cigna Healthcare' will reach $11.70 billion. The estimate indicates a change of -19.5% from the prior-year quarter.
Analysts predict that the 'Revenues- Net investment income' will reach $255.50 million. The estimate indicates a change of +7.4% from the prior-year quarter.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues- Cigna Healthcare- Premiums- U.S. Commercial - Total' of $8.72 billion. The estimate suggests a change of -25.2% year over year.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues- Evernorth Health Services- Pharmacy' should arrive at $52.69 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +4.9% year over year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Revenues- Evernorth Health Services- Net investment income' should come in at $38.66 million. The estimate points to a change of +24.7% from the year-ago quarter.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenues- Premiums' will reach $9.61 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -24.6%.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Medical Care Ratio - Cigna Healthcare' reaching 80.8%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 82.2%.
The consensus estimate for 'Medical Customers - Total' stands at 18.11 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 18.04 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Healthcare Medical Customers - Administrative services only - U.S. Healthcare' will likely reach 13.91 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 14.17 million.
Analysts forecast 'Healthcare Medical Customers - Administrative services only - International Health' to reach 439.05 thousand. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 452.00 thousand.
Analysts expect 'Covered Lives By Funding Type - Medical Customers - International Health insured' to come in at 1.27 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 1.23 million.
View all Key Company Metrics for Cigna here>>>
Over the past month, shares of Cigna have returned +9.5% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.8% change. Currently, CI carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting that its performance may align with the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Cigna (CI) Q1 Earnings on the Horizon: Analysts' Insights on Key Performance Measures

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Monday closed up +0.12%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -0.13%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.01%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.14%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) fell -0.02%.
Stock indexes settled mostly higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs. Optimism that demand for AI-infrastructure will remain strong and continue to power technology earnings boosted stocks on Monday. The megacap technology stocks of Alphabet, Apple, Amazon.com, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms all report quarterly earnings this week.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
The broader market saw some downward pressure from Monday’s +2% rally in WTI crude oil prices, which raised inflation expectations. Crude oil prices jumped after President Trump on Saturday canceled planned negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, saying Iran "offered a lot, but not enough" to continue negotiations. Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran won't enter "imposed negotiations under threats or blockade." Secretary of State Rubio said Iran still wants to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz, and that was "unacceptable" to the US.
However, AI-infrastructure stocks found support on Monday after TF International Securities said that Qualcomm is working with OpenAI and Taiwan’s MediaTek to develop smartphone processors. Also, Micron Technology and SanDisk both received buy ratings from Melius Research. In addition, strength in health insurers was a positive factor for the market.
Stock indexes found support from the Axios report that Iran has given the US a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, which includes postponing nuclear negotiations. The plan calls for extending the ceasefire so the parties can work toward a permanent end to the war, and nuclear talks would come later, only after a US blockade of the strait is lifted. The White House said Monday afternoon that President Trump is discussing the proposal with national security and foreign policy officials.
The US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. The US increased pressure on Iran with its naval blockade as it seeks to get Iran to agree to talks, while Israel and Lebanon are set to extend a ceasefire for three weeks.
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) rose by more than +2% on Monday after President Trump canceled a planned weekend trip by US envoys to Pakistan and Iran said it won’t negotiate while the US naval blockade of Iran remains in force. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. The ongoing blockade could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, or more than 50%, so far in April, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June.
Kevin Warsh now appears to be on a glide path toward Senate approval as the new Fed Chair after Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday that he dropped his opposition to the nomination. Mr. Tillis dropped his opposition after the US Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation into the Fed’s overspending on the renovation of its building, in line with Mr. Tillis’ demand. Mr. Tillis views the investigation into Fed Chair Powell as an attempt to force the Fed to cut interest rates. The Senate Banking Committee is due to vote on Mr. Warsh’s appointment this Wednesday and then send the nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
The markets are discounting a 0% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the Tue-Wed policy meeting. The markets are expecting the FOMC to leave policy unchanged this week as it awaits further developments in oil prices and inflation.
Earnings season ramps up this week with several Magnificent Seven technology stocks reporting. Earnings results thus far have been supportive of stocks. As of Monday, 80% of the 139 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Monday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.39%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +0.16%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 rallied to a new record high and closed up +1.38%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Monday closed down -6 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +3.6 bp to 4.337%. June T-notes retreated on Monday due to the +2% increase in the price of WTI crude oil, which boosts inflation expectations. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 14-month high of 2.457% on Monday. Supply pressures also weighed on T-note prices, as the Treasury auctioned $69 billion of 2-year T-notes and $70 billion of 5-year T-notes.
Demand for Monday’s Treasury auctions was mixed. The 2-year T-note auction saw decent demand, with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.65, above the 10-auction average of 2.60, while demand for the 5-year T-note auction was tepid, with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.33, below the 10-auction average of 2.35.
European government bond yields moved higher on Monday. The 10-year German bund yield rose +3.9 bp to 3.033%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose +6.0 bp to 4.972%.
The German May GfK consumer confidence index fell -5.2 to a 3.25-year low of -33.3, weaker than expectations of -30.0.
Swaps are discounting a 6% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on Thursday.
US Stock Movers
Health insurance stocks rallied on Monday to provide support to the overall market. Centene (CNC) closed up more than +4%, and Elevance Health (ELV) and Humana (HUM) closed up more than +3%. Also, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) and the Cigna Group (CI) closed up more than +2%, and Cardinal Health (CAH) and Molina Healthcare (MOH) closed up more than +1%.
Airline stocks and cruise line operators fell on Monday after WTI crude oil rose more than +2%, which raises fuel costs and weighs on corporate profits. American Airlines Group (AAL) closed down more than -3%, and Alaska Air Group (ALK), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL), and Southwest Airlines (LUV) closed down more than -2%. Also, United Airlines Holdings (UAL), Carnival (CCL), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) closed down more than -1%, and Delta Air Lines (DAL) closed down -0.37%.
Chipmakers moved lower on Monday, weighing on the broader market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -3%. In addition, Applied Materials (AMAT), Microchip Technology (MCHP), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), KLA Corp (KLAC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) closed down more than -2%, and Analog Devices (ADI) and ASML Holding NV (ASML) closed down more than -1%.
Sandisk (SNDK) closed up more than +8% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, and Micron Technology (MU) closed up more than +5% after Melius Research LLC initiated coverage on the stocks with buy recommendations.
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) closed up more than +4% after its board authorized a $500 million stock buyback program.
Verizon Communications (VZ) closed up more than +1% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after boosting its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $4.95-$4.99 from a previous forecast of $4.90-$4.95, stronger than the consensus of $4.90.
Fortinet (FTNT) closed up more than +1% after Arete double-upgraded the stock to buy from sell with a price target of $104.
Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) closed up more than +1% after Mizuho Securities upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral with a price target of $520.
VeraDermics (MANE) closed up more than +46% after reporting that its oral extended-release minoxidil formulation VDPHL01 met all primary and key secondary endpoints with high statistical significance in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial for male pattern baldness.
Organon & Co. (OGN) closed up more than +16% after Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. had lined up a short-term loan to finance its $12 billion acquisition of the company.
Oruka Therapeutics (ORKA) closed up more than +10% after giving positive results from a mid-stage trial of its therapy to treat plaque psoriasis.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) closed down more than -8% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $1.15 billion, below the consensus of $1.16 billion.
GE Vernova (GEV) closed down more than -2% after BNP Paribas downgraded the stock to neutral from buy.
Adobe (ADBE) closed down more than -2% after Mizuho Securities downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform.
Earnings Reports(4/28/2026)
Allegion plc (ALLE), American Tower Corp (AMT), Arch Capital Group Ltd (ACGL), Avery Dennison Corp (AVY), Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG), BXP Inc (BXP), Centene Corp (CNC), CMS Energy Corp (CMS), Coca-Cola Co/The (KO), Corning Inc (GLW), CoStar Group Inc (CSGP), Ecolab Inc (ECL), Edison International (EIX), Equity Residential (EQR), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Expand Energy Corp (EXE), Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR), F5 Inc (FFIV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), FirstEnergy Corp (FE), Franklin Resources Inc (BEN), General Motors Co (GM), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT), Incyte Corp (INCY), Ingersoll Rand Inc (IR), Invesco Ltd (IVZ), Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB), Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Omnicom Group Inc (OMC), ONEOK Inc (OKE), PACCAR Inc (PCAR), Pentair PLC (PNR), PPG Industries Inc (PPG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), S&P Global Inc (SPGI), Seagate Technology Holdings PL (STX), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Sysco Corp (SYY), Teradyne Inc (TER), T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Veralto Corp (VLTO), Visa Inc (V), Waste Management Inc (WM), Welltower Inc (WELL), Xylem Inc/NY (XYL), Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (ZBH).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tech Earnings Optimism Powers Stocks Higher

Centene Corporation CNC, a healthcare plan provider, is set to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 28, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is currently pegged at $1.85 per share on revenues of $47.47 billion.
The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decrease of 36.2% and the top-line estimate implies an increase of 1.8%. The first-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed two downward revisions and one upward movement over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $189.5 billion, indicating a 2.7% year-over-year decline. The consensus estimate for earnings per share is pinned at $3.01, implying a significant 44.7% year-over-year increase.
Centene beat on earnings in three of the last four quarters and missed in the other one, with the average surprise being 60.6%. This is depicted in the figure below.
Centene Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
Q1 Earnings Whispers for Centene
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.
CNC has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
What’s Shaping Centene’s Q1 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total commercial memberships indicates a 35% year-over-year decrease, primarily due to a decline in the commercial marketplace. The consensus estimate for Medicare PDP memberships implies 10% growth from the year-ago quarter’s level. The consensus estimate for total Medicaid memberships indicates a 5.1% decline from the year-ago level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total membership indicates a 7.4% year-over-year decline due to a fall in Medicaid and commercial memberships.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for premium suggests an increase of about 2.2% year over year.
The consensus estimate for service revenues indicates a 10.8% deterioration from the year-ago quarter’s $777 million. The consensus mark for investment and other income implies an 8.6% year-over-year decline from $382 million.
In line with broader industry trends, Centene is expected to have faced elevated medical costs in the first quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the health benefits ratio is pegged at 89.3%, up from 87.1% in the year-ago period, indicating that a smaller share of premiums is retained after claims. This rise in costs likely pressured margins, making an earnings beat less certain.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for Centene this time around, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that may be worth considering, as our model indicates they have the right combination of factors to deliver an earnings beat:
Agenus Inc. AGEN has an Earnings ESP of +7.69% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Agenus’ first-quarter 2026 bottom line is pegged at $1.95, indicating 289.3% year-over-year growth. AGEN has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 60 days. The consensus mark for Agenus’ revenues is pegged at $129.50 million, implying an approximate 483% increase from that posted a year ago.
The Ensign Group, Inc. ENSG has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ensign’s first-quarter 2026 bottom line is pegged at $1.79, calling for 17.8% year-over-year growth. ENSG’s earnings estimate has remained stable over the past 60 days. The consensus mark for first-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.39 billion, implying an 18.5% increase from the year-ago level.
The Cigna Group CI has an Earnings ESP of +0.75% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cigna Group’s first-quarter 2026 earnings of $7.54 per share has witnessed one upward revision over the past 60 days, with one movement in the opposite direction. Cigna Group beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.7%. The consensus estimate for first-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $66.74 billion, suggesting 2% year-over-year growth.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Will Declining Memberships Weigh on Centene's Q1 Earnings?

Molina Healthcare Inc. MOH reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.35, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57. The bottom line declined 61.3% from the year-ago period's level.
Revenues amounted to $10.8 billion, which decreased 3.1% year over year. The top line marginally missed the consensus mark by 0.2%.
The first-quarter performance was supported by lower medical care costs, partially offset by declining premiums, membership and investment income.
Molina Healthcare, Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
MOH’s Q1 Operational Update
Premium revenues of $10.2 billion decreased 4.3% year over year in the quarter under review and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.2%. The decline was due to reduced memberships, reflecting product and pricing decisions.
As of March 31, 2026, total membership decreased 12.5% year over year to around 5 million and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2%. The health insurer witnessed a year-over-year decrease in customers across all segments, especially in Marketplace and Other.
Investment income fell 9.3% year over year to $98 million. It missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $100.8 million.
Total operating expenses were $10.71 billion, flat year over year and slightly below our model estimate of $10.72 billion, driven by lower medical care costs. The adjusted general and administrative expense ratio increased to 6.9% in the first quarter from 6.3% a year ago. Interest expenses of $54 million rose from $43 million in the prior year.
The consolidated medical care ratio (medical costs as a percentage of premium revenues), or MCR, was 91.1% in the reported quarter. It rose from 89.2% a year ago but was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 91.5%.
Molina Healthcare’s adjusted net income decreased 64% year over year to $120 million.
MOH’s Financial Update (as of March 31, 2026)
Molina Healthcare exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $5.3 billion, which increased from the 2025-end level of $4.2 billion. Total assets of $16.4 billion rose from $15.6 billion at 2025-end.
Long-term debt was $3.8 billion, unchanged from the 2025-end levels.
Total stockholders’ equity of $4.08 billion rose from $4.07 billion at the end of 2025.
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $1.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026 compared with $190 million in the prior year.
MOH’s 2026 Guidance
The company's full-year 2026 premium revenue guidance has remained unchanged at about $42 billion, down roughly 2% from 2025.
Management expects 2026 GAAP earnings of at least $1.90 per diluted share. It has reaffirmed adjusted earnings guidance of at least $5.00 per diluted share.
Adjusted net income is projected to be $256 million, while GAAP net income is expected to reach $97 million in 2026.
MOH’s Zacks Rank
Molina currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
How Are Other HMOs Placed in Q1?
Major peers UnitedHealth Group Incorporated UNH and Elevance Health, Inc. ELV have already reported first-quarter results, while The Cigna Group CI is scheduled to report next week.
UnitedHealth reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $7.23, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.46. The bottom line rose 0.4% year over year. Revenues rose 2% year over year to $111.7 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 2.1%. The results were driven by growth in commercial fee-based membership and the strength in Optum Rx. Weaknesses in Optum Health and declining risk-based membership partially offset the positives. UNH’s first-quarter premium of $87.6 billion increased from $86.5 billion a year ago and beat the consensus mark of $86.1 billion.
Elevance Health reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $12.58, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17.8%. The bottom line rose 5.1% year over year. Operating revenues advanced 1.5% year over year to $49.5 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 3.7%. The strong quarterly results benefited from the growth in premiums. The upside was partly offset by a decline in overall medical membership and an elevated expense level. Elevance Health’s medical membership was around 45.4 million as of March 31, 2026, which dipped 0.9% year over year. ELV’s net investment income rose 29.7% year over year to $765 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cigna Group’s first-quarter 2026 earnings of $7.54 per share has witnessed one upward revision over the past 60 days, with one movement in the opposite direction. Cigna Group beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.7%. The consensus estimate for first-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $66.74 billion, suggesting 2% year-over-year growth.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

MOH Q1 EPS Tops Estimates on Lower Medical Costs, Membership Declines

Pfizer today announced that its board of directors declared a $0.43 second-quarter 2026 dividend on the company's common stock, payable June 12, 2026, to holders of the Common Stock of record at the close of business on May 8, 2026. The second-quarter 2026 cash dividend will be the 350th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Pfizer.
Prosperity Bancshares today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.60 per share for the second quarter of 2026, payable July 1, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 15, 2026.
The Board of Directors of The Cigna Group today declared a cash dividend of $1.56 per share of its common stock, payable on June 18, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 4, 2026.
The IBM board of directors declared an increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend to $1.69 per common share, payable June 10, 2026 to stockholders of record as of May 8, 2026. This is the 31st year in a row that IBM has increased its quarterly cash dividend. IBM has paid consecutive quarterly dividends since 1916.
Kinder Morgan's board of directors today approved a cash dividend of $0.2975 per share for the first quarter,$1.19 annualized, payable on May 15, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 4, 2026. This dividend is a 2% increase over the first quarter of 2025.
VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: PFE,PB,CI,IBM,KMI
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Daily Dividend Report: PFE,PB,CI,IBM,KMI

Humana Inc. HUM is set to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 29, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $9.97 per share on revenues of $39.5 billion.
The consensus estimate for the first-quarter earnings has increased by 8 cents over the past 30 days. However, the bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decrease of 13.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues implies year-over-year growth of 22.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Humana’s revenues is pegged at $162.6 billion, implying a rise of 25.3% year over year. Also, the consensus mark for the current year’s EPS is pegged at $9.09, implying a decline of around 47% on a year-over-year basis.
HUM’s earnings beat the consensus estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 7%.
Humana Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Q1 Earnings Whispers for HUM
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here.
Humana currently has an Earnings ESP of -5.02% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping HUM’s Q1 Results?
Humana's revenue growth in the first quarter is expected to have been supported by higher premiums. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for premiums indicates a 22.2% increase from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure, whereas our model predicts 19.8% growth. Similarly, the consensus mark for service revenues signals a 19.3% increase from a year ago.
The consensus mark for total Medicare revenues signals a 24% increase from a year ago. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from the CenterWell unit indicates 13.2% growth from a year ago. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for specialty membership is expected to witness nearly 1.6% growth in the quarter under review.
However, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for operating income from the Insurance unit predicts a 15.6% decrease from the year-ago level. Furthermore, the consensus estimate indicates that Humana’s investment income will see a 12.9% drop from the year-ago level.
We expect total operating costs to increase 21.8% in the first quarter, pushing the figure above $36.6 billion. This is likely to have led to a year-over-year decline in the bottom line. The consensus mark for the overall benefits expense ratio is pegged at 89.5% for the to-be-reported quarter, deteriorating from 87% a year ago.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some companies worth considering from the broader Medical space, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time:
Agenus Inc. AGEN has an Earnings ESP of +7.69% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Agenus’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter indicates 289.3% year-over-year growth. Agenus beat earnings estimates in two of the past four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 31.4%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $129.5 million.
The Ensign Group, Inc. ENSG presently has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ensign Group’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter suggests 17.8% year-over-year growth. Ensign Group beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.9%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.4 billion.
The Cigna Group CI currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.75% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cigna Group’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $7.54 per share, suggesting 11.9% year-over-year growth. Cigna Group beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.7%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $66.7 billion.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Will Increasing Operating Costs Affect Humana's Q1 Earnings?

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) came out with quarterly earnings of $7.23 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.46 per share. This compares to earnings of $7.2 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.92%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this largest U.S. health insurer would post earnings of $2.09 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.11, delivering a surprise of +0.96%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
UnitedHealth, which belongs to the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry, posted revenues of $111.72 billion for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.07%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $109.58 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
UnitedHealth shares have lost about 2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 3.9%.
What's Next for UnitedHealth?
While UnitedHealth has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for UnitedHealth was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $4.59 on $110.04 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $17.66 on $440.36 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Medical - HMOs is currently in the bottom 14% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Cigna (CI), is yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on April 30.
This health insurer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $7.54 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +11.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Cigna's revenues are expected to be $66.74 billion, up 2% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)?
Before you invest in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Tops Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

In a study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages, for the underlying components of the S&P 500, The Cigna Group (Symbol: CI) has taken over the #14 spot from EQT Corp (Symbol: EQT), according to ETF Channel. Below is a chart of The Cigna Group versus EQT Corp plotting their respective rank within the S&P 500 over time (CI plotted in blue; EQT plotted in green):
Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of CI vs. EQT:
CI is currently trading up about 1.4%, while EQT is up about 2.2% midday Thursday.
Also see:
Utilities Dividend Stock List
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding VRD
BDCs Hedge Funds Are Buying
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Cigna Group Achieves #14 Analyst Rank, Surpassing EQT

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares ended the last trading session 9.4% higher at $307.73. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 1.3% loss over the past four weeks.
CMS finalized Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2027 with an average increase of 2.48%. That’s a big improvement from the 0.09% increase proposed in January, lifting sentiment across the sector. UnitedHealth is one of the largest Medicare Advantage providers in the U.S., so CMS reimbursement changes matter. Even small rate shifts can have a meaningful impact on UNH due to its scale. In 2025, its Medicare Advantage membership stood at 8.445 million. The 2027 rate increase will improve earnings visibility going forward.
This largest U.S. health insurer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $6.46 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -10.3%. Revenues are expected to be $109.95 billion, up 0.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Earnings and revenue growth expectations certainly give a good sense of the potential strength in a stock, but empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.
For UnitedHealth, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 4.1% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. And a positive trend in earnings estimate revision usually translates into price appreciation. So, make sure to keep an eye on UNH going forward to see if this recent jump can turn into more strength down the road.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
UnitedHealth is part of the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry. Cigna (CI), another stock in the same industry, closed the last trading session 0.5% lower at $274.25. CI has returned 2.2% in the past month.
For Cigna, the consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming report has remained unchanged over the past month at $7.57. This represents a change of +12.3% from what the company reported a year ago. Cigna currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

UnitedHealth (UNH) Soars 9.4%: Is Further Upside Left in the Stock?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Distillate US Fundamental Stability & Value ETF (Symbol: DSTL) where we have detected an approximate $290.9 million dollar inflow -- that's a 16.0% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 31,200,000 to 36,200,000). Among the largest underlying components of DSTL, in trading today Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (Symbol: BMY) is down about 0.9%, Cisco Systems Inc (Symbol: CSCO) is up about 0.3%, and The Cigna Group (Symbol: CI) is higher by about 0.3%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the DSTL Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of DSTL, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, DSTL's low point in its 52 week range is $47.67 per share, with $62.02 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $58.16. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Free Report: Top 8%+ Dividends (paid monthly)
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
Canadian Stocks Crossing Below Book Value
Institutional Holders of SDVD
MLPs Hedge Funds Are Selling
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Cigna Group

Options Strategies