Managed Health Care

WellPoint Inc (NYSE: WLP) reported a 2.9% drop in its second-quarter net profit and lifted its forecast for 2011. WellPoint's quarterly net profit declined to $701.6 million, or $1.89 per share, from $722.4 million, or $1.71 per share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding net investment gains of...

Aetna Inc (NYSE: AET) reported a 9% rise in its second-quarter profit. Aetna's quarterly net income rose to $536.7 million, or $1.39 per share, from $491 million, or $1.14 per share, in the year-ago period. The company's operating earnings climbed 16% to $522.8 million, or $1.35 per share. Its...

Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC) is expected to report its Q1 EPS at $0.37 on revenue of $1.59 billion. Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) is projected to report its Q2 EPS at $0.47 on revenue of $1.96 billion. Visa Inc (NYSE: V) is projected to report its FQ3 EPS at $1.23 on revenue of $2.30...

Below are the top small-cap health care plans stocks on the NYSE, the NASDAQ and the AMEX in terms of PEG ratio American Dental Partners Inc (NASDAQ: ADPI) has a PEG ratio of 0.60. ADPI's trailing-twelve-month operating margin is 9.68%. Metropolitan Health Networks Inc (AMEX: MDF) has a PEG ratio...

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT), today announced it was awarded a contract by the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System to provide primary and preventive health services to an estimated 1,000 Veterans in a newly...

The stock market had a pretty good week, finishing up over 2% despite no debt ceiling solution and a bombing in Europe. There is very strong upward momentum right now and although I feel like I'm pressing my luck, I continue to lean long. There's no doubt I'm having the "one more time" syndrome,...

The earnings crunch continues this week even as the month of July winds to a close. Quarterly reports of note scheduled for the week include those from Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Dow Chemical (...

WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) announces its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Here's Benzinga's essential guide to WellPoint's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of $1.79 per share and revenues of $14.65 billion. Whether...

Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX) announces its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Get the latest predictions in Benzinga's essential guide to the company's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Wall Street expects a EPS of 71 cents per share and revenues of $...

Aetna (NYSE: AET) releases its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Here's Benzinga's advanced look at Aetna's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Ahead of the company's earnings announcement, analysts are expecting a positive EPS reading of $1.07 per share and...

AFLAC Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) announces its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Get the latest predictions in Benzinga's essential guide to the company's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of $1.54 per share and...

Credit Suisse is out with a research report on UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and it has an Outperform rating and a $72 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Credit Suisse writes, "A press release announcing the proposed acquisition of MHS by ESRX, and the decision by UNH to repatriate its...

According to J.P. Morgan, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported 2Q EPS at $1.16, about $0.27 ahead of estimate, while ex a potential $0.15 charge we had incorporated, the report would have come in $0.12 ahead. J.P. Morgan said that, much like prior quarters, the upside was mostly on lower...

Jefferies has published a report on UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) raising the price target to $62.00 from $60.00. In the report, Jefferies wrote, "We recommend buying UNH, especially on weakness. 2Q was very solid with the company beating EPS by 11% and raising FY11 guidance 5% (in line with...

JP Morgan has raised the price target on UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) from $52 to $60 and maintains its Overweight rating.