Zacks Research Cuts Earnings Estimates for Elevance Health

Key Points

• Zacks Research has lowered its Q3 2026 earnings estimate for Elevance Health from $7.86 to $6.54 per share, while the consensus estimate for the full year is $33.96 per share.
• Numerous firms, including Morgan Stanley and Truist Financial, have adjusted their price targets for Elevance Health's stock, with the average target now at $414.75.
• Elevance Health recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.71 per share, with a yield of 2.2%, to be paid on September 25th.

Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q3 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Elevance Health in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $6.54 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $7.86. The consensus estimate for Elevance Health's current full-year earnings is $33.96 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Elevance Health's Q4 2026 earnings at $4.35 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $32.19 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $10.65 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $37.26 EPS.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The company reported $8.84 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $9.30 by ($0.46). Elevance Health had a net margin of 2.83% and a return on equity of 17.59%. The company had revenue of $49.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $48.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $10.12 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 14.3% compared to the same quarter last year.

ELV has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Leerink Partners reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $310.00 price objective (down previously from $510.00) on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Leerink Partnrs downgraded shares of Elevance Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Elevance Health from $400.00 to $330.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Elevance Health from $500.00 to $440.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Elevance Health from $492.00 to $297.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $411.06.

Elevance Health Stock Up 1.9%

Shares of ELV traded up $5.74 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $313.79. 1,861,540 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,009,927. The firm has a market cap of $70.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $312.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $373.20. Elevance Health has a 12-month low of $273.71 and a 12-month high of $559.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Private Wealth Management Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 152.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 63 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. WPG Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Elevance Health during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Riverview Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Elevance Health by 1,340.0% during the 1st quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 72 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its position in Elevance Health by 94.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 76 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. bought a new position in Elevance Health in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.24% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Elevance Health

In other news, Director Susan D. Devore bought 1,200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 19th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $312.15 per share, with a total value of $374,580.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,502 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,093,149.30. This trade represents a 52.13% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Gail Boudreaux bought 8,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, July 18th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $286.94 per share, for a total transaction of $2,438,990.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 151,020 shares in the company, valued at approximately $43,333,678.80. The trade was a 5.96% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Elevance Health Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be given a dividend of $1.71 per share. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 10th. Elevance Health's payout ratio is presently 29.11%.

About Elevance Health

Elevance Health, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Health Benefits, CarelonRx, Carelon Services, and Corporate & Other. It offers a variety of health plans and services to program members; health products; an array of fee-based administrative managed care services; and specialty and other insurance products and services, such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental health insurance benefits.