CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts remain broadly optimistic: Twenty-two of 23 brokerages rate CVS Health a buy, producing a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average 12-month price target of $107.24.
• CVS exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $2.58 in EPS versus the $1.87 consensus and $106.1 billion in revenue, up 7.3% year over year. Full-year 2026 guidance is $7.90–$8.10 per share.
• Key risks include elevated medical expenses, reimbursement pressure and potential Aetna margin weakness, which could offset pharmacy growth and turnaround opportunities. CVS pays an annualized $2.66 dividend, yielding about 2.8%.

Shares of CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-three brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $107.24.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of CVS Health from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Piper Sandler set a $112.00 target price on CVS Health in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays increased their price target on CVS Health from $106.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on CVS Health from $111.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on CVS Health from $107.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th.

CVS Health Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of CVS stock opened at $95.31 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $121.90 billion, a PE ratio of 25.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $100.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $90.74. CVS Health has a 1 year low of $69.51 and a 1 year high of $110.68.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.71. The company had revenue of $106.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $100.03 billion. CVS Health had a return on equity of 13.12% and a net margin of 1.18%.CVS Health's revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.81 earnings per share. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-8.100 EPS. Research analysts predict that CVS Health will post 8.02 earnings per share for the current year.

CVS Health Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 23rd were issued a $0.665 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 23rd. This represents a $2.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. CVS Health's dividend payout ratio is presently 70.37%.

Key Stories Impacting CVS Health

Here are the key news stories impacting CVS Health this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Updated 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccines are now available at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations nationwide. Most insured patients can receive them at no cost, with appointments available through CVS.com or the app and walk-ins accepted. The rollout could support pharmacy and clinic traffic, although its financial impact is likely modest. Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Available at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and financial commentators point to CVS’s pharmacy growth, specialty-pharmacy expansion, AI investments, GLP-1 opportunities and potential Aetna margin recovery as drivers of a turnaround. Recent quarterly results showed revenue of $106.1 billion, up 7.3% year over year, while adjusted operating income reportedly rose 35%. CVS Health: Buy the Pullback Before Earnings Power Ramps Up
• Positive Sentiment: CVS is being viewed as attractively valued, with commentary citing roughly 12-times forward earnings versus healthcare peers. Its latest reported adjusted EPS of $2.58 exceeded the $1.87 consensus estimate, and full-year 2026 guidance remains $7.90–$8.10 per share. Should You Buy, Hold or Sell CVS Stock Amid Consumer Wellness Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: CVS’s 20-year community health-screening program and new survey emphasize unmet demand for preventive care. The initiative may strengthen the company’s community-health brand, but the announcement is primarily reputational rather than a near-term earnings catalyst. CVS Health Marks 20 Years of Free Community Health Screening
• Negative Sentiment: CVS flagged elevated medical expenses, renewing concerns about managed-care profitability and Aetna margins. Investors also continue to monitor reimbursement pressure and regulatory scrutiny, which could offset gains from pharmacy growth and leave the stock under pressure despite its discounted valuation. CVS Health Flags Elevated Medical Expenses

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CVS Health

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd raised its stake in shares of CVS Health by 407.2% during the third quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 350 shares of the pharmacy operator's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. Swiss RE Ltd. bought a new position in CVS Health in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Kilter Group LLC bought a new position in CVS Health in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Sankala Group LLC purchased a new position in CVS Health during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC raised its position in CVS Health by 344.8% during the 1st quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 387 shares of the pharmacy operator's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.66% of the company's stock.

About CVS Health

CVS Health Corporation is an American health care company headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Founded in 1963 as Consumer Value Stores, the company has expanded from a chain of retail pharmacies into an integrated health care organization serving consumers, employers, health plans, government programs and health care providers.

CVS Health operates through several major businesses. Its Health Care Benefits segment, anchored by Aetna, provides health insurance products and related services for employers, individuals, Medicare and Medicaid members.

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