Humana (NYSE:HUM) Upgraded to Strong-Buy at Zacks Research

Zacks Research upgraded shares of Humana (NYSE:HUM) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note released on Tuesday,Zacks reports.

HUM has been the subject of a number of other reports. Evercore raised Humana from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $480.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Humana from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Humana from $370.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays upped their price target on Humana from $582.00 to $587.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on Humana in a research report on Friday, October 9th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $472.17.

Humana Stock Up 1.9%

Humana stock opened at $446.33 on Tuesday. Humana has a 1-year low of $163.11 and a 1-year high of $456.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.65. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $406.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $314.80. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61.

Humana (NYSE:HUM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 6th. The insurance provider reported ($0.70) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.00) by $0.30. Humana had a net margin of 0.81% and a return on equity of 8.50%. The firm had revenue of $41.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $40.87 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.24 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. Humana has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.500- EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Humana will post 9.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Humana Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 24th will be paid a $0.8850 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 24th. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. Humana’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.44%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Humana

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Johnson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Humana during the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Trust Co. of Vermont purchased a new position in Humana in the second quarter worth $28,000. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its position in Humana by 192.0% in the second quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 73 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in Humana in the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Highland Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Humana in the 2nd quarter valued at $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.38% of the company’s stock.

Humana News Roundup

These are some of the HUM news items that stood out recently:

• Positive Sentiment: Humana’s stronger earnings outlook has bolstered optimism: the company raised its 2026 adjusted EPS floor to $9.50 from $9.00 after reporting favorable insurance-benefit metrics. A Zacks upgrade to Rank #1 (Strong Buy) adds to the positive earnings sentiment. Article: Humana Upgraded to Strong Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Humana also launched cash tender offers for up to $1.5 billion of senior notes. The move signals active debt management, though its effect on the stock may depend on the terms and impact on the company’s balance sheet. Article: Humana shares gain as investors digest outlook and debt tender
• Negative Sentiment: TD Cowen’s $430 target remains below the cited share price, and its Hold rating suggests the firm sees limited near-term upside at current levels. Article: TD Cowen raises Humana price target

Humana Company Profile

Humana Inc. is a U.S. health and wellness company that provides health insurance and healthcare services. Its insurance offerings include Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and prescription drug plans, as well as Medicaid and employer-sponsored plans. The company also provides care through CenterWell, its healthcare services brand, which includes primary care, home health and pharmacy services. Its insurance and care offerings are available in markets across the United States, with availability varying by product and location.