Guggenheim Reaffirms "Buy" Rating for Humana (NYSE:HUM)

Key Points

• Guggenheim has maintained a "Buy" rating for Humana's stock (NYSE:HUM), while other analysts have issued varied price targets and ratings, indicating mixed sentiment in the market.
• Humana's recent quarterly earnings report showed an EPS of $6.27, slightly below expectations, but the company's revenue was up 9.6% year-over-year, reaching $32.39 billion.
• Institutional investors own 92.38% of Humana's stock, with significant recent acquisitions by firms including Norges Bank and AQR Capital Management.

Humana (NYSE:HUM - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "buy" rating restated by equities researchers at Guggenheim in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on HUM. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Humana from $288.00 to $272.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of Humana from $283.00 to $322.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Humana in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. They set an "in-line" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on Humana from $269.00 to $341.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on Humana from $285.00 to $312.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $289.15.

Humana Price Performance

NYSE HUM opened at $258.91 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $273.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $257.32. Humana has a twelve month low of $206.87 and a twelve month high of $315.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.14 billion, a PE ratio of 19.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a current ratio of 1.95.

Humana (NYSE:HUM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The insurance provider reported $6.27 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.32 by ($0.05). Humana had a return on equity of 13.67% and a net margin of 1.28%.The business had revenue of $32.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.96 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Humana has set its FY 2025 guidance at 17.000- EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Humana will post 16.47 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Humana

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Humana in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $397,079,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Humana by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,972,872 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $3,697,222,000 after purchasing an additional 1,143,662 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Humana by 3,257.5% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,162,600 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $307,624,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127,973 shares in the last quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Humana by 661.7% during the second quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. now owns 1,038,703 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $253,942,000 after purchasing an additional 902,340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Humana in the first quarter valued at $171,220,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.38% of the company's stock.

Humana Company Profile

Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits.

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