Humana falls as unchanged annual profit forecast overshadows Q2 beat
BUZZ-Humana falls as unchanged annual profit forecast overshadows Q2 beat Updates
** Shares of Humana HUM.N fall 6.6% to $362.94
** The health insurer reaffirms 2026 adj. EPS forecast of at least $9
** Anticipates a year-over-year decline in 2026 adj. profit due to lower government bonus payments tied to Medicare plan ratings
** "We see HUM maintaining 2026 EPS guidance as a disappointment given the Medicare Advantage favorabilty peers have seen" - Cantor Fitzgerald
** Q2 insurance benefit ratio — the percentage of premiums spent on medical care — of 91.2% matches analysts' estimates
** HUM maintains annual insurance benefit ratio forecast at 92.5%-93%; expects individual Medicare Advantage membership to grow about 25% in 2026
** Posts Q2 adjusted profit of $7.61 per share — above analysts' average estimate of $7.22 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG
** Includings session's move, HUM up 42.4% YTD
(Reporting by Kunal Das in Bengaluru)