Zacks Research Forecasts Weaker Earnings for Elevance Health

Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Elevance Health in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, February 27th. Zacks Research analyst K. Dey now forecasts that the company will earn $11.96 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $12.30. The consensus estimate for Elevance Health’s current full-year earnings is $33.96 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Elevance Health’s Q2 2026 earnings at $11.33 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $9.68 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $39.04 EPS.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. StockNews.com raised Elevance Health from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Elevance Health from $483.00 to $478.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Stephens downgraded Elevance Health from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $520.00 to $440.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Argus reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $405.40 price target on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $501.00 to $512.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Elevance Health presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $517.03.

Elevance Health Stock Performance

Shares of ELV stock opened at $397.68 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.45. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $388.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $436.31. The company has a market capitalization of $90.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.53, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.83. Elevance Health has a fifty-two week low of $362.21 and a fifty-two week high of $567.26.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The company reported $3.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.80 by $0.04. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 18.28% and a net margin of 3.38%.

Elevance Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a $1.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This is an increase from Elevance Health’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.72%. Elevance Health’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.71%.

Institutional Trading of Elevance Health

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ELV. Accredited Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Elevance Health in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Raelipskie Partnership bought a new stake in shares of Elevance Health in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Elevance Health in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Elevance Health during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, WealthTrak Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Elevance Health during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 89.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Elevance Health Company Profile

Elevance Health, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Health Benefits, CarelonRx, Carelon Services, and Corporate & Other. It offers a variety of health plans and services to program members; health products; an array of fee-based administrative managed care services; and specialty and other insurance products and services, such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental health insurance benefits.