Cigna Group $CI Stock: Valley National Advisers Inc. Increases Position

Key Points

• Valley National Advisers increased its Cigna stake by 1,349.8% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 8,757 shares valued at approximately $2.38 million. Institutional investors collectively own 86.99% of Cigna’s stock.
• Cigna’s latest quarterly results exceeded expectations, with adjusted EPS of $7.78 versus the $7.60 consensus and revenue of $71.56 billion, up 6.7% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $338.24, while Cigna shares recently traded at $306.93. Insiders, however, sold 22,730 shares worth about $6.29 million over the past 90 days.

Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its stake in Cigna Group (NYSE:CI - Free Report) by 1,349.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,757 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 8,153 shares during the period. Valley National Advisers Inc.'s holdings in Cigna Group were worth $2,380,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Cigna Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC increased its stake in Cigna Group by 161.9% in the 1st quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 110 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the period. Johnson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Cigna Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new position in Cigna Group during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new position in Cigna Group during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.99% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Nicole S. Jones sold 19,436 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.27, for a total value of $5,369,583.72. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 27,256 shares in the company, valued at $7,530,015.12. This trade represents a 41.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Everett Neville sold 617 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.05, for a total transaction of $175,258.85. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 5,053 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,435,304.65. This trade represents a 10.88% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 22,730 shares of company stock worth $6,293,359. Corporate insiders own 0.60% of the company's stock.

Cigna Group Trading Down 2.8%

Shares of CI stock opened at $306.93 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $281.72 and its 200 day moving average price is $283.21. Cigna Group has a 1-year low of $239.51 and a 1-year high of $316.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $81.10 billion, a PE ratio of 12.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.76.

Cigna Group (NYSE:CI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The health services provider reported $7.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.60 by $0.18. Cigna Group had a return on equity of 19.75% and a net margin of 2.27%. The firm had revenue of $71.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $70.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $7.20 earnings per share. Cigna Group's revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Cigna Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 30.450- EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Cigna Group will post 30.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on CI. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Cigna Group from $305.00 to $307.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Raymond James Financial lowered shares of Cigna Group from a "strong-buy" rating to an "outperform" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $350.00 to $320.00 in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Cigna Group from $338.00 to $361.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Cigna Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $336.00 to $307.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Cigna Group in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $338.24.

Cigna Group Profile

The Cigna Group NYSE: CI is a global health services company that provides insurance coverage, health care benefits and related services. Its operations are primarily organized through Cigna Healthcare, which offers medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health and other benefit programs to employers, government organizations and individuals, primarily in the United States.

The company also operates Evernorth Health Services, a health services platform that includes pharmacy benefit management, specialty pharmacy, care management and health-care delivery capabilities.

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