Cigna (CI – Research Report), the Healthcare sector company, was revisited by a Wall Street analyst yesterday. Analyst Stephen Baxter from Wells Fargo maintained a Hold rating on the stock and has a $341.00 price target.
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Stephen Baxter has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors impacting Cigna’s current performance and future projections. The company’s Stop Loss business faced higher-than-expected costs at the end of 2024, which significantly affected its results. Although the impact of these issues was quickly absorbed, the stock has still underperformed the S&P 500 modestly since the fourth quarter, reflecting a balanced risk-reward profile.
Additionally, Baxter revised the adjusted EPS estimates downward for the coming years, with a notable decrease in the 2025 estimate. Despite anticipated recovery in the Stop Loss segment over the next few years, the growth estimates remain at the lower end of Cigna’s long-term guidance. Furthermore, the reduced price target and ongoing policy uncertainties in the Pharmacy Benefit Management sector contribute to the hold recommendation, suggesting that the potential gains do not currently outweigh the risks.
According to TipRanks, Baxter is a 3-star analyst with an average return of 3.8% and a 44.12% success rate. Baxter covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as UnitedHealth, Cencora, and Cardinal Health.
In another report released on January 31, Leerink Partners also reiterated a Hold rating on the stock with a $325.00 price target.