CVS Health Corporation $CVS Stock: Howard Capital Management LLC Boosts Stake

Howard Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) by 99.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,915 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock after buying an additional 9,451 shares during the quarter. Howard Capital Management LLC’s holdings in CVS Health were worth $1,621,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CVS. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in CVS Health by 83.6% in the 2nd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 1,089,694 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $112,729,000 after buying an additional 496,124 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas lifted its stake in CVS Health by 105.2% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas now owns 49,971 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $5,154,000 after acquiring an additional 25,617 shares during the period. Nykredit A S bought a new position in CVS Health during the 2nd quarter valued at about $209,813,000. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in CVS Health during the 2nd quarter valued at about $49,622,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 148.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 23,188,670 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $2,398,868,000 after acquiring an additional 13,836,701 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.66% of the company’s stock.

CVS Health Stock Down 0.2%

CVS Health stock opened at $92.41 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $118.19 billion, a PE ratio of 24.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.87. CVS Health Corporation has a one year low of $69.51 and a one year high of $110.68. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $91.74 and a 200 day moving average of $93.02.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.71. The company had revenue of $106.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $100.03 billion. CVS Health had a return on equity of 13.12% and a net margin of 1.18%. CVS Health’s revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.81 earnings per share. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-8.100 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that CVS Health Corporation will post 8.02 EPS for the current year.

CVS Health Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.6650 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 22nd. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. CVS Health’s dividend payout ratio is presently 70.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CVS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Piper Sandler set a $112.00 price target on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of CVS Health from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Sunday, October 11th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of CVS Health from $106.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Robert W. Baird set a $107.00 target price on shares of CVS Health in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Argus lifted their target price on shares of CVS Health from $104.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Twenty investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $107.80.

Key Headlines Impacting CVS Health

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

• Positive Sentiment: Value and dividend appeal: Zacks identifies CVS as a potentially attractive long-term value stock, while a separate dividend roundup highlights CVS among income-oriented companies. These reports may support investor interest, although they do not represent new company guidance. Why CVS Health Is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term Dividend roundup
• Positive Sentiment: Care-management and consumer initiatives: CVS Caremark is promoting more connected, personalized pharmacy-benefit experiences. CVS also announced a women’s midlife-health research collaboration and highlighted Signify Health’s at-home heart-rhythm monitoring for eligible members. These efforts could strengthen engagement and differentiate CVS’s health-services platform, but the articles provide no immediate financial targets. CVS Caremark Is Transforming the Health Care Experience CVS Health midlife-health collaboration
• Neutral Sentiment: CVS Caremark appeared in a consumer-focused segment explaining pharmacy benefits as customers evaluate insurance plans. The exposure may improve public understanding of the business but is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. CVS Caremark explains pharmacy benefits
• Negative Sentiment: Medicare Advantage exposure: Reports that Medicare Advantage plans, including a CVS plan, will leave New Hampshire raise concerns about membership losses and pressure on the company’s government-business outlook. The specific financial impact was not disclosed. Medical Advantage plans leaving New Hampshire
• Negative Sentiment: Legal overhang: CVS faces a reported $315 million settlement related to allegations involving dangerous opioid prescriptions. Even if the payment is manageable relative to CVS’s size, the matter adds costs and reputational risk. CVS opioid settlement

About CVS Health

CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) is a diversified health care company that provides pharmacy, insurance and health services in the United States. Its businesses serve consumers, employers, health plans and health care providers through pharmacies, benefit programs, insurance coverage and clinical care services.

The company’s Pharmacy Services segment, led by CVS Caremark, manages prescription drug benefits for employers, insurers and government programs. CVS Pharmacy operates retail pharmacies and health-focused stores that dispense prescriptions and offer over-the-counter products, health and wellness merchandise, immunizations and related services.