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Can Pharmacy Growth Offset Evernorth's Profit Decline in Cigna's Q3?
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Key Takeaways
Cigna's Q3 revenues are expected to grow 5.7%, while EPS is projected to decline 4.7% to $7.46.
Pharmacy revenues are projected to rise 6.5%, while premiums may grow 8.3%, supporting Cigna's Q3 results.
Evernorth's pre-tax adjusted income may fall 4.7%, while Cigna's medical care ratio is expected to hit 85.13%.
The Cigna Group (CI - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 5, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is currently pegged at $7.46 per share on revenues of $73.5 billion.
The third-quarter earnings estimate has remained stable over the past 30 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decrease of 4.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 5.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $290.5 billion, implying an increase of 5.8% year over year. Also, the consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pinned at $30.51, implying growth of 2.3% year over year.
Cigna beat the earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.3%. This is depicted in the figure below.
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for pharmacy revenues indicates a 6.5% improvement from the prior-year quarter’s number. Also, the consensus estimate for premiums revenues signals 8.3% year-over-year growth.
The consensus mark for revenues from the overall Evernorth Health Services segment is pegged at $64.1 billion, indicating 6.1% growth from the prior-year quarter’s figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cigna Healthcare revenues suggests a 6.6% increase. The consensus estimate for pre-tax adjusted income from Cigna Healthcare indicates a 2.9% increase from the year-ago level.
However, the consensus mark for fees and other revenues implies a 1% decrease from the year-ago quarter. The consensus mark for Cigna’s total insured healthcare medical customers is pegged at 3.7 million, indicating a decline from 3.8 million a year earlier.
The consensus estimate for pre-tax adjusted income from Evernorth indicates a 4.7% year-over-year decrease. The consensus mark for the medical care ratio or MCR is pegged at 85.13%, up from 84.8% a year ago.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for Cigna, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
Phibro Animal Health Corporation (PAHC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.10% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Phibro’s third-quarter bottom line suggests 8.2% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 18.4%. PAHC’s revenues for the third quarter are pegged at $379.02 million, suggesting a 4.2% increase from the year-ago period.
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (PMN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +22.43% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ProMIS' third-quarter loss is pinned at $1.26 per share, indicating a 79% year-over-year improvement. PMN has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 30 days.
Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.33% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Humana’s third-quarter loss is pinned at $1.03 per share. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.6%. HUM’s revenues for the to-be-reported quarter are pegged at $40.46 billion, indicating a 23.9% increase from the year-ago period’s level.
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Can Pharmacy Growth Offset Evernorth's Profit Decline in Cigna's Q3?
Key Takeaways
The Cigna Group (CI - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 5, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is currently pegged at $7.46 per share on revenues of $73.5 billion.
The third-quarter earnings estimate has remained stable over the past 30 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decrease of 4.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 5.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $290.5 billion, implying an increase of 5.8% year over year. Also, the consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pinned at $30.51, implying growth of 2.3% year over year.
Cigna beat the earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.3%. This is depicted in the figure below.
Cigna Group Price and EPS Surprise
Cigna Group price-eps-surprise | Cigna Group Quote
Q3 Earnings Whispers for Cigna
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here.
CI currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.06% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
What’s Shaping Cigna’s Q3 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for pharmacy revenues indicates a 6.5% improvement from the prior-year quarter’s number. Also, the consensus estimate for premiums revenues signals 8.3% year-over-year growth.
The consensus mark for revenues from the overall Evernorth Health Services segment is pegged at $64.1 billion, indicating 6.1% growth from the prior-year quarter’s figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cigna Healthcare revenues suggests a 6.6% increase. The consensus estimate for pre-tax adjusted income from Cigna Healthcare indicates a 2.9% increase from the year-ago level.
However, the consensus mark for fees and other revenues implies a 1% decrease from the year-ago quarter. The consensus mark for Cigna’s total insured healthcare medical customers is pegged at 3.7 million, indicating a decline from 3.8 million a year earlier.
The consensus estimate for pre-tax adjusted income from Evernorth indicates a 4.7% year-over-year decrease. The consensus mark for the medical care ratio or MCR is pegged at 85.13%, up from 84.8% a year ago.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for Cigna, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
Phibro Animal Health Corporation (PAHC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.10% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Phibro’s third-quarter bottom line suggests 8.2% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 18.4%. PAHC’s revenues for the third quarter are pegged at $379.02 million, suggesting a 4.2% increase from the year-ago period.
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (PMN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +22.43% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ProMIS' third-quarter loss is pinned at $1.26 per share, indicating a 79% year-over-year improvement. PMN has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 30 days.
Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.33% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Humana’s third-quarter loss is pinned at $1.03 per share. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.6%. HUM’s revenues for the to-be-reported quarter are pegged at $40.46 billion, indicating a 23.9% increase from the year-ago period’s level.