Molina Healthcare, Inc $MOH Stock: Azarias Capital Management L.P. Trims Holdings

Key Points

• Azarias Capital Management cut its Molina Healthcare stake by 48.6% in the third quarter, selling 14,866 shares and retaining 15,727 shares worth approximately $2.97 million.
• Institutional ownership remains very high at 98.5%, with major investors including BlackRock, Manning & Napier Advisors, and Maverick Capital holding or acquiring positions.
• Molina shares traded near $209.71, while analysts maintained a predominantly “Hold” consensus with a $202.44 average price target; investors are watching upcoming results amid expected earnings declines and concerns that the stock’s valuation already reflects a recovery.

Azarias Capital Management L.P. lessened its holdings in Molina Healthcare, Inc (NYSE:MOH - Free Report) by 48.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,727 shares of the company's stock after selling 14,866 shares during the quarter. Molina Healthcare accounts for about 2.8% of Azarias Capital Management L.P.'s holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Azarias Capital Management L.P.'s holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $2,974,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare in the second quarter valued at $1,503,052,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Molina Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth about $152,339,000. Maverick Capital Ltd. acquired a new position in Molina Healthcare in the 1st quarter valued at about $86,081,000. Madison Avenue Partners LP acquired a new position in Molina Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at about $110,003,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in Molina Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at about $86,138,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.50% of the company's stock.

Key Molina Healthcare News

Here are the key news stories impacting Molina Healthcare this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research continues to project substantial earnings growth beyond 2026, including approximately $9.24 in fiscal 2027 EPS, despite modest downward revisions. Its research reports still carry a “Strong-Buy” rating. MarketBeat analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Molina shares outperformed competitors during a strong trading session, suggesting some recent investor support for the managed-care stock. Molina Healthcare stock outperforms competitors
• Neutral Sentiment: Molina is projected to report quarterly results on Wednesday. Investors will focus on medical-cost trends, enrollment, and management’s outlook for a potential earnings recovery. Molina Healthcare projected quarterly earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research downgraded Molina from “Strong-Buy” to “Hold,” adding pressure to the shares ahead of earnings and signaling reduced conviction in the near-term outlook. Zacks analyst earnings outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts expect a decline in upcoming earnings, and Zacks says Molina lacks the combination of positive earnings and estimate-revision trends typically associated with an earnings beat. Molina earnings expectations
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its EPS forecasts across several periods, including fiscal 2026 to $5.25 from $5.27, the third quarter of 2026 to $0.70 from $0.71, and fiscal 2027 to $9.24 from $9.28. A separate analysis argues that MOH’s valuation—about 21 times expected earnings—already prices in a recovery that has yet to materialize. Molina Healthcare valuation analysis

Molina Healthcare Trading Up 0.1%

Molina Healthcare stock traded up $0.20 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $209.71. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,225,375 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,294,645. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,164.96, a P/E/G ratio of 29.29 and a beta of 0.78. The stock's fifty day moving average is $198.62 and its 200 day moving average is $192.25. Molina Healthcare, Inc has a 1-year low of $121.06 and a 1-year high of $244.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 1.68.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $10.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.83 billion. Molina Healthcare had a positive return on equity of 3.73% and a negative net margin of 0.02%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.48 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Molina Healthcare, Inc will post 5.29 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on MOH shares. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $248.00 to $218.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research report on Friday, October 9th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $163.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $235.00 to $220.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Molina Healthcare from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "sell (d)" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $202.44.

About Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare, Inc is a managed-care company that provides health insurance and related healthcare services primarily to individuals and families who receive coverage through government-sponsored programs. Its main lines of business include Medicaid, Medicare, and health plans offered through government marketplaces.

The company works with state and federal agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations to coordinate care for members, including low-income adults and children, seniors, and people with disabilities or complex medical needs.

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