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Anthem (ANTM) to Report Q4 Earnings: What's in the Cards?
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Anthem Inc. will release fourth-quarter 2020 results on Jan 27, before market open.
In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings of $4.20 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4% on the back of solid revenues.
However, the bottom line fell almost 17% year over year.
Let’s see how things are shaping up prior to the earnings announcement.
The company’s performance is likely to have taken a hit from escalating expenses and a weak Commercial business line. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings stands at $2.57, implying a 33.8% decline from the prior-year quarter’s reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s revenues implies a 13.7% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. This upside can be attributed to rising membership and improved premiums.
Anthem is likely to have continued witnessing a surge in telehealth services, particularly in the behavorial health line. This in turn has likely contributed to its revenues.
Increase in Government business enrolment is likely to have offset the fall in commercial enrolment.
Overall, medical membership might have witnessed a spike on the back of organic growth and market share gains in Medicaid and Medicare. The consensus mark for Medical membership in Government business hints at a hike of 14.8% from the prior-year reported number while the same for Commercial business suggests a dip of 0.5%. The consensus mark for Government business revenues indicates a 15.3% improvement from the year-earlier period’s reported figure.
On its last earnings call, management had said that it expects the fourth quarter to be above baseline owing to the recent spike in COVID-19 volumes. It also anticipated the fourth-quarter result to reflect an elevated medical loss ratio due to the underlying cost of services along with high demand.
Additionally, Anthem is likely to have benefited from a steady cash flow in the fourth quarter. This, in turn, is likely to have helped Anthem sustain its share repurchase plan, which provided an additional cushion to its performance.
However, the company might have incurred higher selling, general and administrative expenses, increased spending on growth-driving projects as well as costs related to COVID-19 diagnosis.
What the Quantitative Model States
Our proven model doesn’t predict an earnings beat for Anthem this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of beating estimates, which is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: Anthem has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at $2.57.
Here are a few stocks worth considering from the medical sector with the perfect mix of elements to beat on earnings in the respective upcoming releases:
Teladoc Health, Inc. (TDOC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +31.03% and a Zacks Rank of 2, currently.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) is a #1 Ranked player and has an Earnings ESP of +7.10%.
AmerisourceBergen Corporation presently has a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.93%.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021. Click here for the 6 trades >>
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Anthem (ANTM) to Report Q4 Earnings: What's in the Cards?
Anthem Inc. will release fourth-quarter 2020 results on Jan 27, before market open.
In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings of $4.20 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4% on the back of solid revenues.
However, the bottom line fell almost 17% year over year.
Let’s see how things are shaping up prior to the earnings announcement.
The company’s performance is likely to have taken a hit from escalating expenses and a weak Commercial business line. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings stands at $2.57, implying a 33.8% decline from the prior-year quarter’s reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s revenues implies a 13.7% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. This upside can be attributed to rising membership and improved premiums.
Anthem is likely to have continued witnessing a surge in telehealth services, particularly in the behavorial health line. This in turn has likely contributed to its revenues.
Increase in Government business enrolment is likely to have offset the fall in commercial enrolment.
Overall, medical membership might have witnessed a spike on the back of organic growth and market share gains in Medicaid and Medicare. The consensus mark for Medical membership in Government business hints at a hike of 14.8% from the prior-year reported number while the same for Commercial business suggests a dip of 0.5%. The consensus mark for Government business revenues indicates a 15.3% improvement from the year-earlier period’s reported figure.
On its last earnings call, management had said that it expects the fourth quarter to be above baseline owing to the recent spike in COVID-19 volumes. It also anticipated the fourth-quarter result to reflect an elevated medical loss ratio due to the underlying cost of services along with high demand.
Additionally, Anthem is likely to have benefited from a steady cash flow in the fourth quarter. This, in turn, is likely to have helped Anthem sustain its share repurchase plan, which provided an additional cushion to its performance.
However, the company might have incurred higher selling, general and administrative expenses, increased spending on growth-driving projects as well as costs related to COVID-19 diagnosis.
What the Quantitative Model States
Our proven model doesn’t predict an earnings beat for Anthem this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of beating estimates, which is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: Anthem has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at $2.57.
Anthem, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Anthem, Inc. price-eps-surprise | Anthem, Inc. Quote
Zacks Rank: Anthem carries a Zacks Rank #2, currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks worth considering from the medical sector with the perfect mix of elements to beat on earnings in the respective upcoming releases:
Teladoc Health, Inc. (TDOC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +31.03% and a Zacks Rank of 2, currently.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) is a #1 Ranked player and has an Earnings ESP of +7.10%.
AmerisourceBergen Corporation presently has a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.93%.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
Click here for the 6 trades >>