Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) Given New $455.00 Price Target at Guggenheim

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) had its price target increased by Guggenheim from $399.00 to $455.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Guggenheim currently has a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Elevance Health from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, July 12th. Leerink Partners set a $364.00 price target on Elevance Health in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Mizuho increased their price objective on Elevance Health from $435.00 to $465.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, June 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $350.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Elevance Health from $400.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $439.43.

Elevance Health Trading Down 4.6%

NYSE ELV opened at $372.20 on Thursday. Elevance Health has a 1-year low of $273.71 and a 1-year high of $436.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The company has a market capitalization of $80.83 billion, a PE ratio of 16.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.67. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $399.65 and its 200-day simple moving average is $355.22.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The company reported $7.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.21 by $1.24. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 14.64% and a net margin of 2.47%.The firm had revenue of $49.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $48.88 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.84 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Elevance Health will post 27.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Elevance Health Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 10th will be paid a dividend of $1.72 per share. This represents a $6.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 10th. Elevance Health’s dividend payout ratio is 29.26%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Robert L. Dixon, Jr. sold 151 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.77, for a total transaction of $60,667.27. Following the transaction, the director owned 10,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,312,599.18. This represents a 1.39% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elevance Health

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Elevance Health by 25.2% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,289,976 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,906,051,000 after purchasing an additional 1,668,679 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 27.5% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,446,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,610,261,000 after buying an additional 1,607,274 shares during the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 5,032,751 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,764,231,000 after buying an additional 455,946 shares during the period. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,022,874 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,410,219,000 after buying an additional 24,271 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Elevance Health by 50.3% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,903,878 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,368,505,000 after buying an additional 1,306,390 shares during the last quarter. 89.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Elevance Health News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Elevance Health this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Elevance Health beat Q2 estimates on both EPS and revenue, with EPS of $7.45 versus expectations around $6.21 and revenue of $49.83 billion topping forecasts. Business Wire release
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to at least $27.00, signaling management sees improving operating performance and better cost control ahead. Reuters article
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts turned more constructive after the report, with price target increases from firms including Guggenheim, Barclays, Robert W. Baird, and Truist, which can support sentiment on the stock. Benzinga article
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent coverage and earnings-call transcripts highlight improving medical cost management and stronger CarelonRx revenues, but also note ongoing strain in parts of the business and a mixed operating backdrop. Earnings call transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Some reports pointed to margin pressure and softer membership trends, which appear to be weighing on the stock despite the earnings beat. MSN article
• Negative Sentiment: The company is also leaving more Medicaid markets, adding a strategic headwind that may temper enthusiasm about the near-term growth outlook. Yahoo Finance article

Elevance Health Company Profile

Elevance Health, Inc (NYSE: ELV) is a large U.S.-based health benefits company that provides a broad range of health insurance products and related services. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the company rebranded from Anthem, Inc to Elevance Health in 2022 while continuing to operate consumer-facing health plans under established state and national brands. Gail Boudreaux serves as chief executive officer and president, leading the company’s strategic focus on integrated health care and benefit delivery.

Elevance’s core activities include offering medical and specialty health plans for individuals, employers and government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid managed-care products.