Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Humana (HUM) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

Read MoreHide Full Article

Humana (HUM - Free Report) reported $40.83 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 25.1%. EPS of -$0.70 for the same period compares to $3.24 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $40.46 billion, representing a surprise of +0.9%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +32.04%, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$1.03.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Humana performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Benefit ratio - Consolidated: 93.9% versus 94.3% estimated by six analysts on average.
  • Consolidated Operating Cost Ratio: 11.3% compared to the 10.1% average estimate based on six analysts.
  • Insurance Segment- Benefit Ratio: 93.7% compared to the 94.3% average estimate based on six analysts.
  • Medical Membership - Total Medicare: 11.21 million compared to the 11.08 million average estimate based on five analysts.
  • Revenues- Consolidated- Total services revenue: $2.13 billion compared to the $1.82 billion average estimate based on seven analysts. The reported number represents a change of +32.8% year over year.
  • Revenues- Consolidated- Investment income: $329 million versus the seven-analyst average estimate of $235.19 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -2.7%.
  • Revenues- Consolidated- Total premiums: $38.7 billion versus $38.69 billion estimated by seven analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +26% change.
  • CenterWell- Total revenues: $7.16 billion versus $6.73 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +21.7% change.
  • Insurance- Total revenues: $39.08 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $39.03 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +25.3%.
  • Insurance- Intersegment revenues: $1 million versus $1.8 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a 0% change.
  • Insurance- Investment income: $127 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $103.4 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -39.5%.
  • CenterWell- Services revenue- Pharmacy solutions: $564 million compared to the $385.68 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +60.2% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Humana here>>>

Shares of Humana have returned +6.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -5.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

Published in