El interés en corto de CVS Health da a los inversores una idea del grado en que los inversores apuestan por la caída de las acciones de CVS Health. Los datos de interés en corto se actualizan cada dos semanas.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) Bolsa, Informe de interés en corto

CVS Health

CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the us. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 26 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all its existing business lines.

Earnings

News

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Trading Ideas

RIVN

Aquí tienes cinco acciones estadounidenses que podrían llamar la atención de los inversores este miércoles: MCK, WIX, DIS, RIVN y CVS.

5 acciones en el foco este miércoles: MCK, WIX, DIS, RIVN y CVS

CVS Health Corp

Morgan Stanley ETF Trust Calvert Ultra-Short Investment Grade ETF

CARDIOVASCULAR SCI INC by Cardiovascular Sciences, Inc.

Morgan Stanley ETF Trust Calvert US Select Equity ETF

CVS Group PLC

CIVITAS SOCIAL HSG PLC by CIVITAS SOCIAL HSG PLC

CV Sciences Inc

COVISTA COMMUNS INC by Covista Communications, Inc,

Covista Communications Inc

CONVERGENCE SYS INC CL A by Convergence Systems Inc.

Convergence Systems Inc

CVS Health's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.64% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.10 million shares sold short, which is 1.44% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.04 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>CVS Health Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737143112_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for CVS Health has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing CVS Health's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, CVS Health's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.89%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Peering Into CVS Health's Recent Short Interest

Shares of insurance and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) companies such as Centene Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>), Elevance Health Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) and CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) are trading lower Thursday, likely in reaction to UnitedHealth Group Inc.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) disappointing fourth-quarter 2024 revenue results.
What To Know: UnitedHealth, the largest health insurer in the U.S., reported a revenue increase of 6.8% year-over-year to $100.8 billion, falling short of the consensus estimate of $101.76 billion.
UnitedHealth&#8217;s stock declined sharply, falling 6.04% to $510.59, as the earnings report highlighted concerns over its medical care ratio, which rose to 85.5% from 83.2% in 2023. This increase was attributed to factors such as Medicare funding reductions, member mix changes and the timing of Medicaid redeterminations.
UnitedHealth also reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, projecting $450 billion to $455 billion in revenue and adjusted EPS of $29.50 to $30.00.
The broader sector saw a ripple effect. The declines potentially reflect investor apprehension about sector-wide pressures, including reimbursement challenges and operational costs, spotlighted by UnitedHealth&#8217;s earnings report.
Price Actions: Closing Thursday, Centene stock dropped 0.44% to $62.87, CVS Health slid 0.15% to $51.96, Elevance Health fell 1.03% to $385.26 and Humana dropped 1.62% to $274.97 according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43039835/dave-ramsey-breaks-down-how-a-40000-car-depreciates-by-16000-over-5-years-says-its-not-a-path-to-prosperity-even-on-an-80000-salary">Dave Ramsey Breaks Down How A $40,000 Car Depreciates By $16,000 Over 5 Years, Says It&#8217;s Not A Path To Prosperity, Even On An $80,000 Salary</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Health Care

Movers

Insurance

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

Insurance, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Company Stocks Drop Following UnitedHealth's Q4 Revenue Miss: What's Going On?

CVS Health Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) shares are trading slightly lower by 0.4% to $51.91 during Thursday&#8217;s session. Shares of insurers and pharmacy benefit manager stocks are trading lower in possible reaction to UnitedHealth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43025159/unitedhealth-q4-earnings-revenue-falls-short-medical-ratio-rises-to-85-5-stock-falls">quarterly revenue miss</a>.
What To Know: Both UnitedHealth and CVS operate in overlapping sectors where investor sentiment often transfers. CVS, through its Caremark PBM and healthcare delivery services via Aetna, competes directly with UnitedHealth's Optum and UnitedHealthcare segments.
UnitedHealth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43022980/unitedhealth-group-reports-2024-results">higher-than-expected</a> medical care ratio could signal rising costs and pressures that could affect CVS&#8217;s healthcare and insurance operations similarly, especially as both companies manage Medicare Advantage plans and navigate Medicaid redeterminations.
Additionally, UnitedHealth's missed revenue expectations might have heightened concerns about broader challenges in the healthcare industry, such as reimbursement rates, regulatory pressures or economic headwinds, which could also affect CVS. 
Investors may extrapolate UnitedHealth&#8217;s struggles to CVS, fearing similar financial or operational risks in a highly competitive market with narrow profit margins and cost-sensitive customers.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43027744/retail-sales-slow-jobless-claims-rise-is-us-consumer-loosing-steam">Retail Sales Disappoint, Jobless Claims Rise: Is US Consumer Losing Steam?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy CVS Stock</h2>
By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for CVS Health &#8211; be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy ‘fractional shares,' which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share. For example, some stock, like Berkshire Hathaway, or Amazon.com, can cost thousands of dollars to own just one share. However, if you only want to invest a fraction of that, brokerages will allow you to do so. 
In the the case of CVS Health, which is trading at $52.14 as of publishing time, $100 would buy you 1.92 shares of stock.
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to ‘go short' a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, CVS has a 52-week high of $80.75 and a 52-week low of $43.56.

What's Going On With CVS Health Stock?

WIIM

Shares of insurers and pharmacy benefit manager stocks are trading lower in possible reaction to UnitedHealth's quarterly revenue miss.

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission released a second interim staff report detailing significant price markups on specialty generic drugs by UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s (NYSE: UNH) Optum unit, CVS Health Corp.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) CVS Caremark, and Cigna Corp.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>) Express Scripts.
The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-releases-second-interim-staff-report-prescription-drug-middlemen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> found that these companies generated substantial revenue from markups on essential medications used to treat cancer, HIV, and other critical conditions, often inflating costs by hundreds to thousands of percentage points. 
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/11/42097386/cvs-healthcignaunitedhealths-pharmacy-benefit-managers-accuse-ftc-of-overreach-in-effort-to-reshape-drug-rebate-system" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Pharma's Pharmacy-Benefit Managers Accuse FTC of Overreach In Effort to Reshape Drug Rebate System</a>
From 2017 to 2022, the three largest pharmacy benefit managers and their affiliated pharmacies accrued over $7.3 billion in dispensing revenue that exceeded the drugs' estimated acquisition costs.
The report builds on a prior FTC analysis from July 2024, which revealed that PBM-affiliated pharmacies garnered 68% of specialty drug dispensing revenue in 2023, up <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/07/39695378/ftc-investigation-uncovers-anti-competitive-practices-by-handful-of-pharmacy-benefit-managers-includ" rel="noreferrer noopener">from 54% in 2016</a>.
This occurred as costs to patients, employers, and health plan sponsors steadily rose. FTC Chair Lina Khan emphasized the need for the agency to continue investigating practices that may inflate drug costs and harm independent pharmacies.
The report also identified alarming trends in how PBMs handle specialty generic drugs.
PBM-affiliated pharmacies dispensed a disproportionate share of the most profitable prescriptions, suggesting these companies may be steering business toward their operations. This practice resulted in billions of dollars in additional income, including $1.4 billion from spread pricing — a strategy where PBMs bill plan sponsors more than they reimburse pharmacies for drugs.
The FTC's findings underscore the growing financial impact of PBMs on health care costs.
Between 2017 and 2021, plan sponsors' spending on specialty generic drugs increased at a compound annual growth rate of 21% for commercial claims, with patients' cost-sharing also climbing significantly.
In 2021 alone, plan sponsors paid $4.8 billion, while patients spent $297 million.
The study analyzed 51 specialty generic drugs, including critical medications such as Ampyra, Gleevec, Sensipar, and Myfortic.
These drugs accounted for a significant portion of operating income for the PBMs' parent healthcare conglomerates, with the top 10 drugs alone generating $6.2 billion in dispensing revenue above acquisition costs.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42997019/asia-markets-mixed-europe-advances-gold-surges-1-dollar-dips-global-markets-today-while-us-slept" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dollar Cools Off Ahead Of Bank Earnings, Asia Markets Mixed, Europe Up &#8211; Global Markets Today While US Slept</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Martin Gregor via Shutterstock

Large Cap

Regulations

General

FTC Says UnitedHealth, CVS, Cigna Make Billions Via PBMs On Specialty Drugs

The past month has been a rollercoaster ride for investors, with markets taking a beating across the board. From December 15 to January 15, the S&amp;P 500 dropped 4.33%, the Nasdaq fell 4.71%, and small-cap stocks got hammered, tumbling around 8%. The bond market wasn&#8217;t spared either, with long-term Treasury bonds diving 7.67%. Even the typically resilient triple-B corporate bonds fell 3.4%, though high-yield bonds held up better, declining just 1.5% to 1.8%.
It&#8217;s been a challenging period for traditional stock-and-bond investors. Yet the Easy Income Portfolio proved its mettle. While broader markets stumbled, the portfolio declined only 2.5%, supported by its robust 9.38% dividend yield. This yield towers over Treasuries, junk bonds, and the S&amp;P 500. The key? A diversified mix of high-quality, income-generating investments spread across sectors that zig when others zag.
Sector Highlights:
<ol start="1">
<li>Mortgage REITs (REM): These took a significant hit, down 8.65%, reflecting broader challenges in real estate debt markets. </li>
<li>Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (Ticker: JRI): Declined notably, despite its diversified exposure to real assets like infrastructure, real estate, and energy. The fund&#8217;s holdings in premier companies such as Simon Property Group, Realty Income, and Energy Transfer illustrate its high-quality asset base. </li>
<li>Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund: Down 6%, this closed-end fund offers exposure to high-grade sovereign and corporate debt in the Asia-Pacific region, acting as both a dollar hedge and an income-generating asset. </li>
<li>Business Development Companies (BDCs): BDCs like Ares Capital, Blackstone Secured Lending, and FS KKR Capital remain core holdings. These entities leverage their deep private equity relationships to maintain credit quality and deliver strong dividends. </li>
<li>Energy Infrastructure: Investments like Dorchester Minerals and Tortoise Energy Infrastructure have performed well, capturing benefits from increased energy demand and the reorganization of global energy markets. </li>
<li>Closed-End Fund and SPAC Arbitrage: Exposure to these strategies helps add diversification and reduce overall volatility.</li>
</ol>
Mortgage REITs: A Tough Month Mortgage REITs (REM) bore the brunt of market turbulence, dropping 8.65%. That&#8217;s not a fun number to see, but it&#8217;s par for the course in a volatile interest rate environment. These REITs, which invest in residential and commercial mortgage securities, remain a core piece of the portfolio, offering high yields to counterbalance periods of price volatility.
Real Asset Income: A Hidden Opportunity The Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI) also faced pressure, declining around 8%. This fund gives you a one-stop shop for exposure to real assets, including infrastructure, real estate, and energy. Think Simon Property Group, Realty Income, Energy Transfer, and Enbridge—some of the best operators in their respective fields.
Simon Property Group Simon Property Group (Ticker: SPG) is the premier operator of Class A malls in the United States, owning high-end shopping centers in affluent, densely populated areas. Unlike struggling Class B and C malls, Simon&#8217;s properties thrive as destinations for luxury shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Simon maintains high occupancy rates, typically in the mid-90% range, driven by the desirability of its properties. Its tenant base spans luxury brands and experiential anchors, reinforcing its status as the leader in mall-based real estate.
Realty Income Known as &#8220;The Monthly Dividend Company,&#8221; Realty Income owns over 13,000 properties across the U.S. and Europe. These properties are leased to high-quality tenants under long-term triple-net leases, where tenants cover taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
Key tenants and sectors include:
<ul>
<li>Convenience Stores: 7-Eleven </li>
<li>Pharmacies: (Ticker: CVS) Walgreens </li>
<li>Big Box Retailers: Home Depot (Ticker: HD) Walmart (Ticker: WMT) </li>
<li>Entertainment and Dining: AMC Theatres (Ticker: AMC) Chick-fil-A</li>
</ul>
Enbridge (Ticker: ENB) is one of North America&#8217;s largest energy infrastructure companies. Its extensive asset base includes over 83,000 miles of crude oil, natural gas, and liquids pipelines that span Canada and the U.S. Enbridge also operates natural gas utility businesses, serving millions of customers in Ontario and Quebec, and is a leader in renewable energy investments, with wind and solar farms contributing to its diversified energy portfolio.
Energy Transfer Energy Transfer owns a vast network of energy infrastructure assets, including 120,000 miles of pipelines for natural gas, crude oil, natural gas liquids, and refined products. The company operates major storage facilities, processing plants, and export terminals, including the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex, a key hub for exporting natural gas liquids to global markets.
One of Energy Transfer&#8217;s standout assets is its LNG export capability, which positions the company to benefit from growing global demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas. Its pipelines and storage facilities are critical links in the supply chain, ensuring the movement of energy products from production basins like the Permian and Marcellus to end users.
These infrastructure giants, Enbridge and Energy Transfer, play essential roles in the energy economy, transporting and storing the resources that power homes, businesses, and industries. Their scale, diversified revenue streams, and regulated nature make them resilient income generators, which is exactly what we seek in the Easy Income Portfolio.
Asia-Pacific Debt: A Dollar Hedge Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund also had a rough month, down 6%. This closed-end fund invests in high-grade sovereign and corporate debt from countries like Australia, India, and Indonesia. With 13% dividend yields and limited default risk, it&#8217;s a great income producer and a natural hedge against a weakening U.S. dollar.
Business Development Companies: A Core Strength The portfolio&#8217;s BDC holdings, including Ares Capital, Blackstone Secured Lending, and FS KKR, continue to shine. These firms lend to small and mid-sized businesses, a segment set to thrive under pro-business policies. Their private equity relationships provide a massive competitive edge, ensuring they know the borrowers inside and out. Add in an 11% yield, and these BDCs are delivering exactly what we want—steady income with a margin of safety.
The Easy Income Philosophy The Easy Income Portfolio isn&#8217;t about chasing short-term gains or checking prices daily. It&#8217;s about creating a low-volatility, high-income portfolio that practically runs itself. With positions across 15 sectors, from infrastructure and energy to private credit and real estate, the portfolio delivers reliable cash flow through monthly dividends.
This month showed why diversification and a focus on income are essential. Even as markets faltered, the Easy Income Portfolio kept humming along, providing a steady income stream while staying positioned for long-term success.

Opinion

Easy Income Portfolio: January 2025 Update

Traders adopted a cautious approach on Monday as they awaited two critical inflation reports due later this week, seeking clarity on Federal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42953940/tuesdays-producer-inflation-report-could-stoke-market-volatility-as-fed-path-remains-unclear">Reserve interest rate policy. </a>
Additionally, the kickoff of earnings season, led by major banks on Wednesday, added to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">the market&#8217;s subdued tone.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 edged lower, continuing Friday&#8217;s downturn sparked by unexpectedly strong jobs data. The lack of &#8220;buy-the-dip&#8221; enthusiasm in the tech-heavy indices signaled lingering uncertainty among investors.
In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a gain, buoyed by a rally in energy stocks. Rising oil prices provided a key lift, as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil surged over 3% to approach $78 per barrel — a level last seen in mid-August 2024. The spike followed U.S. sanctions on Russian crude exports announced on Friday, which shifted market expectations around supply and demand.
Treasury yields extended their ascent, with the 10-year yield climbing to 4.79% and the 30-year yield rising to 4.97%, reflecting heightened expectations for tighter monetary policy. Bank of America Securities launched a bombshell indicating rising risks towards a rate hike as the next Fed move.
Commodity markets saw mixed action. Gold endured its sharpest daily loss in nearly a month, falling more than 1% as rising yields weighed on the precious metal. Meanwhile, copper staged a modest rebound, gaining 0.8% after a 0.5% decline last Friday.
Cryptocurrencies faced renewed volatility, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) plunging 3% to dip below $92,000, briefly touching a two-month low. The ripple effects extended to crypto-linked equities: MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) slid more than 3%, while Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) dropped nearly 4%.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day chg. %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,144.04</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,822.92</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,183.39</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>20,739.92</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.1% lower to $579.98.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.7% to $422.03.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) fell 0.6% to $504.44.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) dipped 0.3% to $216.19.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 2.3%; the&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 1.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Major oil &amp; gas giants rallying on Monday include Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLO#NYSE">VLO</a>), up 5%, Baker Hughes Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>) up 3.9%, and Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPC#NYSE">MPC</a>) up 3.5%.</li>
<li>Health insurance companies surged after a government proposal suggested increased payments for Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, lifting sentiment across the sector.</li>
<li>Shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) rose 7.8%, CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) followed closely with a 6.9% jump, while UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) saw a 4.8% increase.+</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) dropped 2.7% to $132.19 as the AI chipmaker urged President-elect Donald Trump to oppose Biden administration regulations on AI technology. Meanwhile, HSBC cut its price target from $195 to $185 but reaffirmed its Buy rating.</li>
<li>Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) plummeted 20% after projecting 2025 revenue of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion, missing analysts&#8217; estimates of $2.92 billion. The company also announced it would fast-track its cost-cutting measures.</li>
<li>Edison International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EIX#NYSE">EIX</a>) fell 12% as authorities investigated whether equipment from its subsidiary, Southern California Edison, played a role in sparking the Hurst fire in Los Angeles.</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42948649/goldman-sachs-warns-of-90-oil-risk-trump-may-not-ease-sanctions-once-he-takes-office">Oil Could Hit $90, Goldman Sachs Says: &#8216;Trump May Not Ease Sanctions&#8217; On Russia</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Ryan DeBerardinis via Shutterstock

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COIN

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

MRNA

MSTR

NVDA

Stocks Edge Down Ahead Of Key Inflation Reports, Crude Hits 5-Month High, Bitcoin Sinks: What's Driving Markets Monday?

CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), Humana, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) and UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) stock is moving higher on Monday. Here&#8217;s what you <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42953047">need to know</a>.
What To Know: Shares of health insurance companies are trading higher after The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rise to Medicare Advantage payments.
According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/us-proposes-21-billion-boost-to-insurers-for-medicare-payments?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a>, the proposal suggests an average 4.3% increase in Medicare Advantage plan payments. If the plan is adopted, it could lead to an additional $21 billion in payments for 2026 compared to the expected 2025 figures.
This follows concerns from health insurers that current rates are too low to cover medical expenses. 
"While rates in recent years have been considered insufficient" by Medicare insurers, "there is some optimism that rates could improve under a Trump CMS," said JPMorgan analyst Lisa Gill told Bloomberg.
Health insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans receive direct payments from the federal government to cover beneficiaries. An increase in these payments could drive higher revenue and improved margins, likely boosting investor confidence in these companies.
Notably, CVS, Humana and UnitedHealth sold more than half of the Medicare Advantage plans in 2024, as reported by KFF. Additionally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission noted that Medicare Advantage covered more than half of Medicare beneficiaries in 2023.
The U.S. is expected to spend $9.2 trillion over the next decade on payments to private Medicare plans.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42953757/whats-going-on-with-trump-media-technology-group-stock-4">What&#8217;s Going On With Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Stock?</a>
Price Action: At the time of publication, CVS stock is trading 7.43% higher at $51.56, Humana shares are trading 7.38% higher at $289.98 and UnitedHealth stock is moving 4.37% higher at $543.48, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: via Shutterstock

What's Going On With CVS, Humana and UnitedHealth Shares Monday?

Shares of health insurers are trading higher after The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a rise to Medicare Advantage payments.

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with CVS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 17 uncommon options trades for CVS Health.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 52% bullish and 47%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 7 are puts, for a total amount of $853,576, and 10 are calls, for a total amount of $1,325,759.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $45.0 to $65.0 for CVS Health over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in CVS Health's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to CVS Health's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $45.0 to $65.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>CVS Health Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736364670_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$1.68</td>
<td>$1.61</td>
<td>$1.62</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$567.0K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$9.7</td>
<td>$9.35</td>
<td>$9.35</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$365.6K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>391</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$10.05</td>
<td>$10.0</td>
<td>$10.05</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$223.1K</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>224</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$161.9K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
<td>674</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$9.4</td>
<td>$9.15</td>
<td>$9.15</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$154.6K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>730</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the us. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 26 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all its existing business lines.
In light of the recent options history for CVS Health, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>CVS Health's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 7,320,414, the price of CVS is up by 0.02%, reaching $45.79.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 35 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About CVS Health</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $60.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Truist Securities persists with their Buy rating on CVS Health, maintaining a target price of $60. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for CVS Health, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on CVS Options

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>JNJ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$132.6K</td>
<td>236</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CAPR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOLV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>711</td>
<td>608</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEHC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$92.50</td>
<td>$83.4K</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>340</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$87.3K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
<td>284</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$28.6K</td>
<td>53.7K</td>
<td>193</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$106.5K</td>
<td>210</td>
<td>101</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VEEV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$64.2K</td>
<td>184</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding JNJ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 829 contract(s) at a $142.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $132.6K, with a price of $160.0 per contract. There were 236 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1103 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CAPR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAPR#NASDAQ">CAPR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 9 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 3727 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 750 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SOLV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOLV#NYSE">SOLV</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $250.0 per contract. There were 711 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 608 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GEHC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEHC#NASDAQ">GEHC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 254 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 139 contract(s) at a $92.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $83.4K, with a price of $600.0 per contract. There were 14 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 340 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ABBV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 373 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 148 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $87.3K, with a price of $590.0 per contract. There were 2546 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 284 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 44 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.6K, with a price of $286.0 per contract. There were 53788 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 193 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ABT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 254 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 101 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $106.5K, with a price of $1055.0 per contract. There were 210 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 101 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For VEEV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEEV#NYSE">VEEV</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 373 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $64.2K, with a price of $3210.0 per contract. There were 184 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 20 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ABBV

CAPR

GEHC

SOLV

VEEV

8 Health Care Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Wall Street enters 2025 singing the same song it has sung for the past few years:
Artificial Intelligence!
Quantum Computing!
FinTech!
Tesla! (Ticker: TSLA)
Crypto!
Tech!
More tech!
That is where the action is; as we know, these things can grow forever, and nothing could go wrong.
The business&#8217;s more &#8220;prominent&#8221; folks suggest indexing and a 60-40 mix of stocks and bonds.
Never mind that this exposes you to a massive position in high-multiple tech stocks and low total returns over the next decade.
It is prudent.
All the textbooks say so.
I am more interested in the things Wall Street never talks about.
Wall Street never mentions the type of small banks mentioned last week.
Old economy companies trading for less than the liquidation value of the assets they own are never talked about.
Unless they are doing an IPO that lures buyers willing to pay a high fee, you will never hear closed-end funds mentioned.
When they are out of favor and trading at a discount to the value of the stocks and bonds in the fund and throwing off a high stream of regular income, the big firms and Instant Experts of the internet are as silent as the mice scurrying in the rafters of Trinity Church.
You rarely hear any discussion of real estate aside from the occasional asset allocation scheme that calls for a 10% allocation to Real Estate Investment Trusts for diversification purposes.
No one mentions the Morningstar data that shows that since 1972, REITs have outperformed the S&amp;P 500.
The CREM Benchmarking study never comes up either.
That study clarifies that REITs have outperformed private equity in defined benefit pension plans over the last 25 years.
The instant experts are too busy trying to predict which company will dominate nuclear energy when the new plants are finally turned on and can produce cash flow in future years. They never mention the REITs throwing off growing streams of cash right now.
Wall Street and the Instant Experts only care about what is hot now.
You will hear little mention of portfolios of almost fully leased properties that pay investors a huge amount of cash every quarter.
Broadstone Net Lease (Ticker: BNL) is a great example of a collection of properties producing regular cash streams that are being distributed to shareholders as dividends.
Broadstone owns industrial, warehouse, and retail properties across the United States.
The average lease has 11 years to run, and all leases have a 2% escalation clause that helps protect cash flows from inflation.
Its tenants include Nestlé, Carvana, Tractor Supply, and other well-known companies with excellent credit profiles.
30% of its properties are manufacturing facilities making everything from food products to semiconductors.
It has both normal and cold storage warehouse facilities, and it will see increased demand from the remaking of the global supply chain and the continued rise of e-commerce.
All of the properties are net lease properties, which means that tenants pay all maintenance, insurance, and taxes in addition to rent.
Broadstone has an excellent balance sheet, with BBB credit ratings and about twice as much equity as long-term debt.
The REIT maintains plenty of liquidity, so it can withstand all economic turmoil and take advantage of opportunities created by disruptions.
This is not the most exciting story you will hear this year.
It may be the most consistent and profitable over the next several years. The current yield on the shares is about 7.3%, and the shares trade at a fairly steep discount to my internal calculation of net asset value.
None of the chattering experts on the internet will be excited about a collection of retailers we all drive by and use every day of our lives that is throwing off cash, either.
Alpine Income Property Trust (Ticker: PINE) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in owning and managing high-quality, single-tenant retail and office properties. Based in Florida, the company strategically focuses on acquiring net lease assets in thriving markets across the United States.
Alpine emphasizes properties leased to strong, creditworthy tenants, often with long-term, triple-net lease agreements that shift maintenance, taxes, and insurance costs to the tenant.
Its tenants include companies like Walmart (Ticker: WMT), Dollar General (Ticker: DG), 7-Eleven, Bass Pro Shops, Best Buy (Ticker: BBY), and CVS (Ticker: CVS).
Alpine&#8217;s properties are also leased on a triple-net basis, so most of the cash collected goes back to shareholders as a dividend.
The yield is currently about 6.6%, and the portfolio of properties is, in my calculation, worth much more than the current price of the shares.
When it comes to investing, boring companies that generate a lot of cash have a better-than-average chance of being wildly profitable investments for patient, aggressive investors.
In the case of REITs, that has been the case for more than five decades.

PINE

TSLA

Under the Radar: Undervalued Assets Wall Street Isn't Talking About

Ratings for CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) were provided by 14 analysts in the past three months, showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated CVS Health and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $68.07, accompanied by a high estimate of $82.00 and a low estimate of $58.00. This current average has decreased by 0.93% from the previous average price target of $68.71. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736200837_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
A clear picture of CVS Health's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Hill</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Ryhee</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Tassan</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>$68.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Caliendo</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$62.00</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$61.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ann Hynes</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$63.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to CVS Health. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of CVS Health compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of CVS Health's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of CVS Health's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on CVS Health analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About CVS Health</h2>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the us. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 26 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all its existing business lines.
<h3>Breaking Down CVS Health's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With a profound presence, the company's market capitalization is above industry averages. This reflects substantial size and strong market recognition.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining CVS Health's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 6.31% as of 30 September, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Net Margin: CVS Health's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 0.09%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): CVS Health's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 0.12%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): CVS Health's ROA lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns from its assets. With an ROA of 0.03%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Debt Management: CVS Health's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 1.1, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

Breaking Down CVS Health: 14 Analysts Share Their Views

CVS Health Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) subsidiary, Aetna Inc., has filed a lawsuit against more than 20 generic drug manufacturers. The lawsuit alleges a coordinated scheme to fix prices, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/drug-prices">allocate markets, and stifle competition</a>.
The result was a significant overcharge for essential medications.
Defendants include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>), Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMRX#NASDAQ">AMRX</a>), Dr. Reddy&#8217;s Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDY#NYSE">RDY</a>), Novartis AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Viatris, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTRS#NASDAQ">VTRS</a>), among others.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DocumentInquiry/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=29056426" rel="noreferrer noopener">lawsuit</a> accuses the defendants of orchestrating one of the largest price-fixing conspiracies in U.S. history, causing inflated drug prices and widespread harm to consumers, insurers, and the healthcare system.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42600472/your-healthcare-costs-are-soaring-us-spending-reached-5-trillion-in-2023-with-major-increase-in-obesity-and-diabetes-drugs-hospital-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">Your Healthcare Costs are Soaring! US Spending Reached $5 Trillion In 2023 with Major Increase in Obesity and Diabetes Drugs, Hospital Services</a>
The lawsuit claims that these pharmaceutical companies colluded to artificially raise generic drug prices by as much as 2,762%.
Examples include clomipramine (2,600% increase), nadolol (+2,762%), and oxybutynin chloride (up to 1,500%).
Aetna alleges this conspiracy exploited market conditions, fostered cronyism, and suppressed competition, while depriving third-party payers like Aetna of expected cost savings.
According to the complaint, the defendants utilized secretive methods to implement their price-fixing strategies. These included in-person meetings, private phone calls, and strategic coordination during trade association events. Evidence of collusion was deliberately minimized, with written communications often destroyed to evade detection.
Central to the allegations is the so-called &#8220;fair share&#8221; system, which allocated market share and dictated price increases among competitors. This strategy, referred to as the &#8220;rules of engagement,&#8221; ensured that generic drugmakers avoided undercutting one another, thereby maintaining inflated prices. In some cases, competitors allegedly submitted cover bids to maintain an artificial equilibrium in the market.
The lawsuit highlights Teva Pharmaceuticals as an example of this practice, alleging the company collaborated with select &#8220;high-quality&#8221; competitors to lead and follow each other&#8217;s price hikes.
This agreement reportedly extended to various drugs, enabling the companies to dominate the market and secure extraordinary profits.
Aetna contends that the defendants&#8217; actions have severely impacted the U.S. healthcare system, driving up costs for insurers, consumers, and government programs like Medicare Part D.
The insurer is seeking treble damages and injunctive relief under state antitrust and unfair competition laws to recover losses and prevent future anticompetitive practices.
Price Action: CVS stock is up 2.31% at $46.85 at last check Monday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Legal

AMRX

TEVA

VTRS

CVS Health's Aetna Files Lawsuit Against Drugmakers For Alleged Inflated Generic Drug Prices

Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald maintains CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $67 to $60.

Price Target

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on CVS Health, Lowers Price Target to $60

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the health care sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.67%</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst David Amsellem maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $344 to $310 on Jan. 2. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Tim Anderson reinstated an Underperform rating with a price target of $256 on Dec. 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Dec. 10, Amgen increased its first-quarter dividend by 6% from $2.25 to $2.38 per share.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest AMGN news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="902" height="828" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044102/image-12.png" alt="" class="wp-image-716759" style="width:619px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044102/image-12.png 902w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044102/image-12-300x275.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044102/image-12-768x705.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 902px) 100vw, 902px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AbbVie Inc. &nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.66%</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Tim Anderson reinstated a Neutral rating with a price target of $191 on Dec. 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li>Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Outperform with a price target of $206 on Nov. 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Dec. 13, AbbVie announced plans to acquire Nimble Therapeutics.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest ABBV news</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="917" height="847" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044151/image-13.png" alt="" class="wp-image-716760" style="width:670px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044151/image-13.png 917w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044151/image-13-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044151/image-13-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 917px) 100vw, 917px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 6.02%</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank analyst George Hill upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy with a price target of $66 on Dec. 3. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%.</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald reiterated a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $76 to $67 on Nov. 20. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li>Recent News: The DOJ recently alleged that CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act by filling unlawful prescriptions for opioid combinations and excessive quantities since 2013.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the trend in <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">CVS stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="912" height="845" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044223/image-14.png" alt="" class="wp-image-716761" style="width:584px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044223/image-14.png 912w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044223/image-14-300x278.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03044223/image-14-768x712.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" /></a></figure>
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</ul>

Dividends

AMGN

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Health Care Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with CVS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 10 uncommon options trades for CVS Health.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 10% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $241,558, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $305,422.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $40.0 to $60.0 for CVS Health over the recent three months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in CVS Health's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to CVS Health's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $40.0 to $60.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>CVS Health Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735572637_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$188.3K</td>
<td>97</td>
<td align="right">278</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$10.55</td>
<td>$10.45</td>
<td>$10.55</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$71.7K</td>
<td>573</td>
<td align="right">83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$16.5</td>
<td>$16.25</td>
<td>$16.37</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$49.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$7.65</td>
<td>$7.4</td>
<td>$7.4</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$45.8K</td>
<td>502</td>
<td align="right">62</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$7.6</td>
<td>$7.45</td>
<td>$7.45</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$43.9K</td>
<td>502</td>
<td align="right">121</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the us. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 26 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all its existing business lines.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with CVS Health, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of CVS Health</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,589,833, with CVS's price down by -0.79%, positioned at $44.14.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 44 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On CVS Health</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $66.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; In a positive move, an analyst from Deutsche Bank has upgraded their rating to Buy and adjusted the price target to $66. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for CVS Health with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

CVS Health Unusual Options Activity For December 30

On December 26, it was revealed in an SEC filing that J. David Joyner, President and CEO at CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) executed a significant exercise of company stock options.
What Happened: Joyner, President and CEO at CVS Health, exercised stock options for 0 shares of CVS stock. This information was disclosed in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000064803/000112760224030049//Archives/edgar/data/64803/000112760224030049/0001127602-24-030049-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Thursday. The exercise price of the options was $0.0 per share.
The Friday morning market activity shows CVS Health shares up by 0.11%, trading at $44.97. This implies a total value of $0 for Joyner's 0 shares.
<h3>Unveiling the Story Behind CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the us. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 26 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all its existing business lines.
<h3>Financial Insights: CVS Health</h3>
Revenue Growth: CVS Health's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 6.31%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Analyzing Profitability Metrics:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: With a low gross margin of 13.16%, the company exhibits below-average profitability, signaling potential struggles in cost efficiency compared to its industry peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): CVS Health's EPS is below the industry average. The company faced challenges with a current EPS of 0.07. This suggests a potential decline in earnings.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.1.
Valuation Metrics: A Closer Look
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The Price to Earnings ratio of 11.4 is lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The current P/S ratio of 0.15 is below industry norms, suggesting potential undervaluation and presenting an investment opportunity for those considering sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): At 9.12, CVS Health's EV/EBITDA ratio reflects a below-par valuation compared to industry averages signalling undervaluation
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is above the industry average, indicating that it is relatively larger in size compared to peers. This may suggest a higher level of investor confidence and market recognition.
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<h3>Why Insider Transactions Are Important</h3>
Considering insider transactions is valuable, but it's crucial to evaluate them in conjunction with other investment factors.
Exploring the legal landscape, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated by Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This encompasses executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be submitted within two business days of the transaction.
Highlighted by a company insider's new purchase, there's a positive anticipation for the stock to rise.
But, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>Transaction Codes To Focus On</h3>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">Investors</a> prefer focusing on transactions that take place in the open market, indicated in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 indicates a purchase, while S indicates a sale. Transaction code C indicates the conversion of an option, and transaction code A indicates grant, award or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000064803">Check Out The Full List Of CVS Health's Insider Trades.</a>
Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves
Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don't miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22in8&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Notable Insider Move: J. David Joyner Takes Part In Options Exercise At CVS Health, Resulting In $0

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in CVS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for CVS Health. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 45% leaning bullish and 54% bearish. Among these notable options, 8 are puts, totaling $587,869, and 3 are calls, amounting to $211,402.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $40.0 and $55.0 for CVS Health, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for CVS Health's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across CVS Health's significant trades, within a strike price range of $40.0 to $55.0, over the past month.
<h3>CVS Health Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735228831_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$13.7</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$191.1K</td>
<td>18.5K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$14.75</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$14.42</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$181.6K</td>
<td>18.5K</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$108.6K</td>
<td>261</td>
<td>302</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$69.5K</td>
<td>812</td>
<td>94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$63.8K</td>
<td>261</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the us. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 26 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all its existing business lines.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding CVS Health, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of CVS Health</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,561,563, with CVS's price up by 2.01%, positioned at $45.14.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 41 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for CVS Health</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $66.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; In a positive move, an analyst from Deutsche Bank has upgraded their rating to Buy and adjusted the price target to $66. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for CVS Health, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.
Major averages jumped on Friday but still logged weekly losses, with the Dow down 2.3%, the S&amp;P 500 falling 2%, and the Nasdaq losing 1.8%. 
The Federal Reserve&#8217;s widely anticipated 25-basis-point rate cut on Wednesday was overshadowed by its revised 2025 inflation forecasts and Jerome Powell&#8216;s cautious stance, dampening hopes for deeper cuts next year. Powell emphasized a "new phase" of monetary policy after a 100-basis-point reduction in 2024, signaling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/12/42629219/fed-cuts-interest-rates-but-powell-spoils-santa-claus-rally-dollar-surges-to-over-2-year-high-bitcoin-sinks-below-100000-this-week-in-the-market">only gradual easing in 2025</a>.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), which had reached a record $108,388 before the Fed meeting, fell below $100,000 as markets absorbed the news.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42525257/analyst-hikes-teslas-price-target-to-515-musk-expresses-hope-for-stock-to-touch-69042">Elon Musk Hopes TSLA Stock Will Reach $690 As Analysts Raise Price Target Despite Technical Indicators Flashing Warning Signals</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anan-ashraf">Anan Ashraf</a>, reports Elon Musk's optimism about Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) reaching $690, as analysts upgraded the stock with $515 price targets, citing potential benefits from Musk's alignment with Donald Trump's pro-autonomous vehicle policies.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42602503/dave-portnoy-says-he-owns-15-million-bitcoin-13-million-xrp-bet-it-and-set-it-not-trading">Dave Portnoy Says He Owns $1.5 Million Bitcoin, $1.3 Million XRP: &#8216;Bet It And Set It, Not Trading&#8217;</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a> , reveals that Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, holds $1.5 million in Bitcoin and $1.3 million in XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>), emphasizing a long-term investment strategy rather than active trading, following insights from a recent conversation with Michael Saylor.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42516826/nvidia-and-5-other-stocks-are-analysts-top-semiconductor-picks-for-2025-sees-2-ai-trends">Nvidia And 5 Other Stocks Are Analyst&#8217;s Top Semiconductor Picks For 2025, Sees 2 AI Trends</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/hayden-buckfire">Hayden Buckfire</a>, highlights a Bank of America analyst naming NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), and Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) as top AI-driven semiconductor picks for 2025, alongside Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>), and Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>).
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42547442/microsof-scoops-up-485000-nvidia-ai-chips-twice-as-many-as-its-closest-rival-meta-report">Microsoft Scoops Up 485,000 Nvidia AI Chips, Twice As Many As Its Closest Rival Meta: Report</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/12/42599673/amazon-has-20000-rivian-electric-delivery-vans-in-fleet-heres-what-could-be-next-for-both-companies">Amazon Has 20,000 Rivian Electric Delivery Vans In Fleet: Here&#8217;s What Could Be Next For Both Companies</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/12/42535298/joby-clears-faa-tail-test-stock-flies-higher">Joby Clears FAA Tail Test, Stock Flies Higher</a>
The Bears
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42522048/jim-cramer-warns-nvidias-vicious-and-fast-reversal-is-coming-amid-174-surge-this-year-and-china-antitrust-probe">Jim Cramer Warns Nvidia&#8217;s &#8216;Vicious&#8217; And &#8216;Fast&#8217; Reversal Is Coming Amid 174% Surge This Year And China Antitrust Probe</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/kaustubh-bagalkote">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>, features Jim Cramer's caution about NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) facing a sharp correction after its 174% YTD gain, amid heightened regulatory scrutiny from China over its Mellanox Technologies acquisition.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42568740/dogecoin-bull-says-he-had-to-sell-as-meme-king-plunges-to-5-week-low-but-derivative-traders-remain-bullish">Dogecoin Bull Says He &#8216;Had To Sell&#8217; As Meme King Plunges To 5-Week Low But Derivative Traders Remain Bullish</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, reports on Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) dropping amid Federal Reserve concerns, with early adopter Glauber Contessoto selling some holdings.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42517567/cvs-cigna-unitedhealth-shares-slide-as-trump-targets-drug-middleman">CVS, Cigna, UnitedHealth Shares Slide As Trump Targets Drug &#8216;Middleman&#8217;</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/adam-eckert">Adam Eckert</a>, reports that shares of CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) dropped after Trump vowed to eliminate Pharmacy Benefit Managers, citing their role in inflating drug prices and contributing to industry inefficiencies.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42559347/trump-administration-could-ban-amazons-top-selling-routers-linked-to-chinese-cyberattacks-report">Trump Administration Could Ban Amazon&#8217;s Top-Selling Routers Linked To Chinese Cyberattacks: Report</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42529095/bitcoin-crash-could-trigger-stock-market-decline-in-2025-warns-expert-im-very-worried-that-people-overextended-themselves">Bitcoin Crash Could Trigger Stock Market Decline In 2025, Warns Expert: &#8216;I&#8217;m Very Worried That People Overextended Themselves&#8217;</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/12/42536470/costco-warns-that-tariffs-raise-prices-trump-team-says-trade-policies-will-make-life-affordable">Costco Warns That Tariffs Raise Prices, Trump Team Says Trade Policies Will &#8216;Make Life Affordable&#8217;</a>
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following<a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga"> Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on Twitter</a>.

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