We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Humana (HUM) Up 6.4% Since Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
Read MoreHide Full Article
It has been more than a month since the last earnings report for Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.4% in that time frame, outperforming the market.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Humana Beats Earnings Estimates, Lags Revenues in Q2
Humana's second-quarter 2017 operating earnings per share of $3.49 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by approximately 13%. The bottom line improved 6% year over year, primarily driven by the company’s individual Medicare Advantage and Individual Commercial businesses, partially offset by lower pretax earnings in the Group and Specialty and Healthcare Services segments.
Operational Update
Adjusted consolidated revenues of $13.3 billion grew 2% on higher Retail segment revenues from the company’s Medicare business, excluding the impact of revenues from its Individual Commercial business. However, revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.6 billion.
Humana’s adjusted consolidated benefit ratio of 83.4% deteriorated 90 basis points (bps) from the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the impact of the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee in 2017.
Adjusted consolidated operating cost ratio of 10.7% improved 130 bps from the year-ago quarter, also due to the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee for 2017.
Quarterly Segment Results
Retail Segment
Revenues from the Retail segment were $11.30 billion, up 3% year over year, primarily owing to higher revenues from the company’s Medicare Advantage business.
Benefit ratio of 85.8% deteriorated 50 bps year over year, primarily due to the impact of the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee in 2017. The segment’s operating cost ratio of 8.5% improved 130 bps year over year because of the same reason.
Adjusted pretax income of $613 million jumped 18% year over year, primarily due to lower benefit and operating cost ratios.
Group and Specialty Segment
Revenues from the Group and Specialty segment were $1.83 billion, down 2% from the prior-year quarter, primarily due a decline in average group fully insured and ASO commercial medical membership.
Benefit ratio deteriorated 100 bps year over year to 78.4%, due to the impact of the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee in 2017. Operating cost ratio improved 110 bps year over year to 21.6%, due to the same reason.
Adjusted pretax income of $102 million decreased 19% year over year due to the timing of revenues under the company’s TRICARE contract primarily relating to medical cost trend incentives and amounts for additional services requested under the contract.
Healthcare Services
Revenues of $5.98 decreased 5% year over year, primarily due to the company’s Pharmacy Solutions business as well as the impact of the optimization process associated with its chronic condition management programs.
Operating cost ratio remained flat year over year at 95%.
Adjusted pretax income for the segment was $281 million, down 3% year over year due to ongoing pressures in the company’s provider services business. This reflects lower Medicare rates year over year in specific geographies, as well as the impact of the optimization process associated with the company’s chronic care management programs.
Individual Commercial Segment
Individual Commercial membership was 0.2 million as of Jun 30, 2017, down 77% over 2016 year-end, primarily due to a decline in number of countries where the company offers on exchange coverage as well as the discontinuance of off exchange products.
Benefit ratio of 34.8% rose 106 bps from second quarter of 2016. The year over year improvement primarily resulted from the effect of the $208 million increase in the PDR in the prior-year quarter, planned exits in 2017 in certain markets that carried a higher benefit ratio, and per member premium increase.
The segment’s operating cost ratio deteriorated 140 bps from the year ago quarter to 16.2%, primarily due the loss of scale efficiency from market exits in 2017.
The company witnessed a pretax income of $118 million, which compared favorably with a pretax loss of $225 million in the prior year quarter. This was owing to the exit from certain markets in 2017 and per member premium increases.
Financial Update
As of Jun 30, 2017, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities of $18.92 billion, down 1% sequentially.
As of Jun 30, 2017, cash and short term investments held by the parent company was $2.82 billion, up 65% from Mar 31, 2017.
Debt to total capitalization as of Jun 30, 2017 was 31.3%, down 260 bps from Mar 31, 2017.
Cash flows used in operations totaled $83 million compared with $296 million in the prior-year quarter. The improvement was primarily driven by higher earnings year over year and the timing of working capital changes, partially offset by the portion of taxes paid in the quarter related to the merger termination fee.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
The company subsequently entered into an agreement with a third-party financial institution to bring into effect a $1.50 billion ASR program under the authorization.
Given the outstanding ASR, the company did not execute any share repurchases in the second quarter.
The company paid cash dividends to its stockholders of $57 million in the second quarter.
Guidance Raised
Humana increased its 2017 adjusted EPS guidance to $11.50 from the previous guidance of at least $11.10. The increase was primarily driven by the strong results in the Retail segment, largely attributable to the company’s individual Medicare Advantage business.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Following the release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. There has been one revision lower for the current quarter.
At this time, the stock has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the momentum front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Based on our scores, the stock is more suitable for value and growth investors than momentum investors.
Outlook
The stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are expecting an inline return from the stock in the next few months.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Humana (HUM) Up 6.4% Since Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
It has been more than a month since the last earnings report for Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.4% in that time frame, outperforming the market.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Humana Beats Earnings Estimates, Lags Revenues in Q2
Humana's second-quarter 2017 operating earnings per share of $3.49 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by approximately 13%. The bottom line improved 6% year over year, primarily driven by the company’s individual Medicare Advantage and Individual Commercial businesses, partially offset by lower pretax earnings in the Group and Specialty and Healthcare Services segments.
Operational Update
Adjusted consolidated revenues of $13.3 billion grew 2% on higher Retail segment revenues from the company’s Medicare business, excluding the impact of revenues from its Individual Commercial business. However, revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.6 billion.
Humana’s adjusted consolidated benefit ratio of 83.4% deteriorated 90 basis points (bps) from the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the impact of the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee in 2017.
Adjusted consolidated operating cost ratio of 10.7% improved 130 bps from the year-ago quarter, also due to the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee for 2017.
Quarterly Segment Results
Retail Segment
Revenues from the Retail segment were $11.30 billion, up 3% year over year, primarily owing to higher revenues from the company’s Medicare Advantage business.
Benefit ratio of 85.8% deteriorated 50 bps year over year, primarily due to the impact of the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee in 2017. The segment’s operating cost ratio of 8.5% improved 130 bps year over year because of the same reason.
Adjusted pretax income of $613 million jumped 18% year over year, primarily due to lower benefit and operating cost ratios.
Group and Specialty Segment
Revenues from the Group and Specialty segment were $1.83 billion, down 2% from the prior-year quarter, primarily due a decline in average group fully insured and ASO commercial medical membership.
Benefit ratio deteriorated 100 bps year over year to 78.4%, due to the impact of the temporary suspension of the health insurance industry fee in 2017. Operating cost ratio improved 110 bps year over year to 21.6%, due to the same reason.
Adjusted pretax income of $102 million decreased 19% year over year due to the timing of revenues under the company’s TRICARE contract primarily relating to medical cost trend incentives and amounts for additional services requested under the contract.
Healthcare Services
Revenues of $5.98 decreased 5% year over year, primarily due to the company’s Pharmacy Solutions business as well as the impact of the optimization process associated with its chronic condition management programs.
Operating cost ratio remained flat year over year at 95%.
Adjusted pretax income for the segment was $281 million, down 3% year over year due to ongoing pressures in the company’s provider services business. This reflects lower Medicare rates year over year in specific geographies, as well as the impact of the optimization process associated with the company’s chronic care management programs.
Individual Commercial Segment
Individual Commercial membership was 0.2 million as of Jun 30, 2017, down 77% over 2016 year-end, primarily due to a decline in number of countries where the company offers on exchange coverage as well as the discontinuance of off exchange products.
Benefit ratio of 34.8% rose 106 bps from second quarter of 2016. The year over year improvement primarily resulted from the effect of the $208 million increase in the PDR in the prior-year quarter, planned exits in 2017 in certain markets that carried a higher benefit ratio, and per member premium increase.
The segment’s operating cost ratio deteriorated 140 bps from the year ago quarter to 16.2%, primarily due the loss of scale efficiency from market exits in 2017.
The company witnessed a pretax income of $118 million, which compared favorably with a pretax loss of $225 million in the prior year quarter. This was owing to the exit from certain markets in 2017 and per member premium increases.
Financial Update
As of Jun 30, 2017, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities of $18.92 billion, down 1% sequentially.
As of Jun 30, 2017, cash and short term investments held by the parent company was $2.82 billion, up 65% from Mar 31, 2017.
Debt to total capitalization as of Jun 30, 2017 was 31.3%, down 260 bps from Mar 31, 2017.
Cash flows used in operations totaled $83 million compared with $296 million in the prior-year quarter. The improvement was primarily driven by higher earnings year over year and the timing of working capital changes, partially offset by the portion of taxes paid in the quarter related to the merger termination fee.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
The company subsequently entered into an agreement with a third-party financial institution to bring into effect a $1.50 billion ASR program under the authorization.
Given the outstanding ASR, the company did not execute any share repurchases in the second quarter.
The company paid cash dividends to its stockholders of $57 million in the second quarter.
Guidance Raised
Humana increased its 2017 adjusted EPS guidance to $11.50 from the previous guidance of at least $11.10. The increase was primarily driven by the strong results in the Retail segment, largely attributable to the company’s individual Medicare Advantage business.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Following the release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. There has been one revision lower for the current quarter.
Humana Inc. Price and Consensus
Humana Inc. Price and Consensus | Humana Inc. Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, the stock has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the momentum front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Based on our scores, the stock is more suitable for value and growth investors than momentum investors.
Outlook
The stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are expecting an inline return from the stock in the next few months.