CVS Health Option Alert: Fri $50 Calls Sweep (6) near the Bid: 350 vs 7628 OI

CVS Health Option Alert: Fri $50 Calls Sweep (6) near the Bid: 350 @ $15.3 vs 7628 OI; Ref=$65.26

CVS Health Option Alert: Mar 21 $52.5 Calls at the Ask: 500 vs 5506 OI

CVS Health Option Alert: Mar 21 $52.5 Calls at the Ask: 500 @ $14.3 vs 5506 OI; Ref=$66.475

CVS Health Option Alert: Jan, 2026 $65 Puts at the Bid: 2000 vs 5799 OI

CVS Health Option Alert: Jan, 2026 $65 Puts at the Bid: 2000 @ $6.65 vs 5799 OI; Ref=$66.23

CVS Health Option Alert: Jun 20 $52.5 Calls at the Bid: 2950 vs 4662 OI

CVS Health Option Alert: Jun 20 $52.5 Calls at the Bid: 2950 @ $13.2 vs 4662 OI; Ref=$64.59

CVS Health Option Alert: Jan, 2026 $52.5 Calls at the Bid: 5001 vs 5445 OI

CVS Health Option Alert: Jan, 2026 $52.5 Calls at the Bid: 5001 @ $15.2 vs 5445 OI; Ref=$64.7

CVS Health Option Alert: Jan, 2026 $47.5 Calls at the Bid: 4000 vs 4284 OI

CVS Health Option Alert: Jan, 2026 $47.5 Calls at the Bid: 4000 @ $18.0 vs 4284 OI; Ref=$64.255

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) Azioni

CVS HEALTH CORP

CVS Health

CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the US. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 27 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all existing business lines.

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A notable insider purchase on May 19, was reported by J. Scott Kirby, Director at CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), based on the most recent SEC filing.
What Happened: Kirby made a significant move by purchasing 2,769 shares of CVS Health as reported in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000064803/000112760225014955//Archives/edgar/data/64803/000112760225014955/0001127602-25-014955-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a>. The transaction's total worth stands at $167,441.
During Tuesday's morning session, CVS Health shares up by 1.1%, currently priced at $63.47.
<h3>About CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the US. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 27 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all existing business lines.
<h3>CVS Health: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Revenue Growth: CVS Health's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 31 March, 2025, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 6.96%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Key Insights into Profitability Metrics:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company shows a low gross margin of 15.22%, indicating concerns regarding cost management and overall profitability relative to its industry counterparts.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): The company excels with an EPS that surpasses the industry average. With a current EPS of 1.41, CVS Health showcases strong earnings per share.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: CVS Health's debt-to-equity ratio stands notably higher than the industry average, reaching 1.06. This indicates a heavier reliance on borrowed funds, raising concerns about financial leverage.
Valuation Analysis:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: With a lower-than-average P/E ratio of 14.98, the stock indicates an attractive valuation, potentially presenting a buying opportunity.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The P/S ratio of 0.21 is lower than the industry average, implying a discounted valuation for CVS Health's stock in relation to sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): CVS Health's EV/EBITDA ratio at 9.98 suggests potential undervaluation, falling below industry averages.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
<a href="https://www.schwab.com/brokerage?aff=XEC">Now trade stocks online commission free with Charles Schwab, a trusted and complete investment firm.</a>
<h3>Why Insider Transactions Are Key in Investment Decisions</h3>
Insider transactions, although significant, should be considered within the larger context of market analysis and trends.
In the context of legal matters, the term "insider" refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as outlined by Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. Such insiders are obligated to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be completed within two business days of the transaction.
Pointing towards optimism, a company insider's new purchase signals their positive anticipation for the stock to rise.
Despite insider sells not always signaling a bearish sentiment, they can be driven by various factors.
<h3>Breaking Down the Significance of Transaction Codes</h3>
Examining transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> often concentrate on those unfolding in the open market, meticulously detailed in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C indicates the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000064803">Check Out The Full List Of CVS Health's Insider Trades.</a>
Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves
Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don't miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22in8&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Director At CVS Health Buys $167K of Stock

On May 19, Guy P Sansone, Board Member at CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) executed a significant insider buy, as disclosed in the latest SEC filing.
What Happened: Sansone's recent move, as outlined in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000064803/000112760225014959//Archives/edgar/data/64803/000112760225014959/0001127602-25-014959-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Monday, involves purchasing 2,077 shares of CVS Health. The total transaction value is $125,596.
In the Tuesday's morning session, CVS Health's shares are currently trading at $63.47, experiencing a up of 1.1%.
<h3>Discovering CVS Health: A Closer Look</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the US. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 27 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all existing business lines.
<h3>CVS Health's Economic Impact: An Analysis</h3>
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining CVS Health's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 6.96% as of 31 March, 2025, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Holistic Profitability Examination:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company shows a low gross margin of 15.22%, suggesting potential challenges in cost control and profitability compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): The company excels with an EPS that surpasses the industry average. With a current EPS of 1.41, CVS Health showcases strong earnings per share.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: CVS Health's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 1.06, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
Valuation Overview:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The current P/E ratio of 14.98 is below industry norms, indicating potential undervaluation and presenting an investment opportunity.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a lower-than-average P/S ratio of 0.21, the stock presents an attractive valuation, potentially signaling a buying opportunity for investors interested in sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): The company's EV/EBITDA ratio 9.98 is below the industry average, indicating that it may be relatively undervalued compared to peers.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
<a href="https://www.schwab.com/brokerage?aff=XEC">Now trade stocks online commission free with Charles Schwab, a trusted and complete investment firm.</a>
<h3>Delving Into the Significance of Insider Transactions</h3>
While insider transactions should not be the sole basis for making investment decisions, they can play a significant role in an investor's decision-making process.
When discussing legal matters, the term "insider" refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated in Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. Such insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be completed within two business days of the transaction.
A new purchase by a company insider is a indication that they anticipate the stock will rise.
On the other hand, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>Deciphering Transaction Codes in Insider Filings</h3>
Taking a closer look at transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000064803">Check Out The Full List Of CVS Health's Insider Trades.</a>
Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves
Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don't miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22in8&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

125K Reasons To Be Bullish On CVS Health Stock

It was revealed in a recent SEC filing that Douglas H Shulman, Board Member at CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) made a noteworthy insider purchase on May 19,.
What Happened: Shulman's recent move, as outlined in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000064803/000112760225014960//Archives/edgar/data/64803/000112760225014960/0001127602-25-014960-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Monday, involves purchasing 2,077 shares of CVS Health. The total transaction value is $125,596.
CVS Health's shares are actively trading at $63.47, experiencing a up of 1.1% during Tuesday's morning session.
<h3>All You Need to Know About CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the US. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 27 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all existing business lines.
<h3>CVS Health: Delving into Financials</h3>
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining CVS Health's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 6.96% as of 31 March, 2025, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Interpreting Earnings Metrics:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company faces challenges with a low gross margin of 15.22%, suggesting potential difficulties in cost control and profitability compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): CVS Health's EPS is significantly higher than the industry average. The company demonstrates a robust bottom-line performance with a current EPS of 1.41.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: CVS Health's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 1.06. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.
Valuation Overview:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The current P/E ratio of 14.98 is below industry norms, indicating potential undervaluation and presenting an investment opportunity.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a P/S ratio of 0.21 below industry standards, the stock shows potential undervaluation, making it an appealing investment option for those focusing on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): With an EV/EBITDA ratio lower than industry averages at 9.98, CVS Health could be considered undervalued.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
<a href="https://www.schwab.com/brokerage?aff=XEC">Now trade stocks online commission free with Charles Schwab, a trusted and complete investment firm.</a>
<h3>Navigating the Impact of Insider Transactions on Investments</h3>
While insider transactions should not be the sole basis for making investment decisions, they can play a significant role in an investor's decision-making process.
When discussing legal matters, the term "insider" refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated in Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. Such insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be completed within two business days of the transaction.
A new purchase by a company insider is a indication that they anticipate the stock will rise.
On the other hand, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>Breaking Down the Significance of Transaction Codes</h3>
When it comes to transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> tend to focus on those in the open market, detailed in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S indicates a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000064803">Check Out The Full List Of CVS Health's Insider Trades.</a>
Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves
Benzinga Edge reveals every insider trade in real-time. Don't miss the next big stock move driven by insider confidence. Unlock this ultimate sentiment indicator now. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22in8&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Board Member Of CVS Health Purchased $125K In Stock

After Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45384935/trump-again-promises-lower-drug-prices-by-cutting-out-middlemen-like-unitedhealth-cvs-will-it-work-this-time">executive order</a> slashing drug prices last week, experts have highlighted how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) could be hit the hardest despite pharmaceutical companies facing the potential of compressed margins amid poor pricing power.
What Happened: According to Thomas Shipp, the head of equity research at LPL Financial, the pressure that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45389750/trump-claims-drug-price-crackdown-could-slash-your-prescription-costs-by-59-but-will-big-pharma-fight-it-again">pharmaceutical manufacturers</a> are facing to lower prices domestically, &#8220;has the potential to compress margins by eroding pricing power and would provide a significant headwind to drug manufacturer share prices.&#8221;
However, he explains that the &#8220;middlemen&#8221; or PBMs that facilitate drug distribution and negotiate with pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to lower prescription costs have come under scrutiny for opaque pricing practices, like retaining rebates from drug manufacturers and "spread pricing."
&#8220;PBMs pay pharmacies less than what they charge health plan participants for drugs,&#8221; he said.
Another April 15 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44866755/mark-cuban-says-this-trump-healthcare-order-could-save-hundreds-of-billions">executive order</a> signed by Trump called for increased transparency into PBM fees and requested that the role of these middlemen be reevaluated.
CVS Caremark, owned by CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), Express Scripts, owned by Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), and OptumRx, owned by UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), are the biggest PBM companies.
Shipp also underscored that PBM savings are expected, but direct price controls pose a longer-term risk for U.S.-heavy drugmakers. Transparency will reveal if PBM margin erosion can prevent deeper manufacturer cuts, he highlights.
&#8220;While many questions remain about how these executive orders will be implemented, after the initial news flow is digested, the net effect appears less detrimental to pharmaceutical drug manufacturers than to PBMs,&#8221; said Shipp.
&#8220;That said, reworking the way Americans buy their medicine is going to take a long time. Along the way, efforts to support direct-to-consumer sales will support both the manufacturers leading the charge and those they partner with for distribution,&#8221; he added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/05/45465955/ark-invest-takes-swipe-at-mstr-mara-says-bitcoin-treasury-companies-dont-make-sense-fundin">Ark Invest Expert Takes Swipe At MSTR, MARA, Says &#8216;Bitcoin Treasury Companies Don&#8217;t Make Sense:&#8217; &#8216;Funding Purchases With Debt&#8230;Seems Like A Recipe For Disaster&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Meanwhile, the billionaire investor and Shark Tank fame, Mark Cuban, called PBMs a &#8220;racket&#8221; in an X post by explaining that they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44674382/mark-cuban-says-big-insurance-companies-and-pbms-control-healthcare-costs-everyone-has-to-kiss-their-a-and-accept-the-complications">negotiate rebates and not prices</a>.
&#8220;They negotiate rebates. Not prices. In fact, the big PBMs control more than 95pct of the rebate negotiations. Big brand Pharma companies can&#8217;t negotiate with anyone else. IMO, it&#8217;s a racket,&#8221; he said.
While the April 15 order calls for transparency in pricing, Cuban highlights that 30% of the $4.9 trillion in healthcare spending is attributed to the overhead insurance companies and pricing distortions big PBMs create.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">One of the great lies the big PBM industry tells us is that they are needed to negotiate lower prices. It&#39;s a lie. They negotiate rebates. Not prices. In fact, the big PBMs control more than 95pct of the rebate negotiations. Big brand Pharma companies can&#39;t negotiate with…
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1923880717420986860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Here are the aforementioned PBMs operating companies that have performed in 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One-Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</td>
<td>41.41%</td>
<td>8.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cigna Group. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>)</td>
<td>16.92%</td>
<td>-3.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td>
<td>-42.14%</td>
<td>-43.56%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Here are a few pharma-linked ETFs for investors to consider.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>-0.28%</td>
<td>-4.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>-1.20%</td>
<td>-2.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-3.45%</td>
<td>-0.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-4.83%</td>
<td>-1.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>11.10%</td>
<td>1.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-6.51%</td>
<td>-6.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-23.63%</td>
<td>-24.07%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended higher on Friday. The SPY was up 0.63% to $594.20, while the QQQ advanced 0.44% to $521.51, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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Photo courtesy: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Health Care

FTXH

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

KURE

PILL

Merrill Lynch Pharmaceutical HOLDRs Trust

Trump's Drug Price Order Hits PBMs Hardest: CVS, Cigna, UNH In Focus As Experts Highlight 'Racket,' Pricing Distortion

WIIM

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Shares of health insurers are trading higher. The sector may be volatile following recent reports of an investigation into UNH, which the company denied.

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$37.1K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>44.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/23/25</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$28.7K</td>
<td>110</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PHAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$138.9K</td>
<td>13.5K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CLOV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$3.50</td>
<td>$40.5K</td>
<td>8.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$38.2K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>566</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TMDX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$617.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LLY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$47.0K</td>
<td>648</td>
<td>205</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EXEL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/21/25</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$25.7K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ELV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$28.1K</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, is expiring today. Parties traded 105 contract(s) at a $290.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.1K, with a price of $360.0 per contract. There were 3397 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 44848 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HIMS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on May 23, 2025. Parties traded 42 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.7K, with a price of $685.0 per contract. There were 110 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2278 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PHAT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHAT#NASDAQ">PHAT</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 91 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 1985 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $138.9K, with a price of $70.0 per contract. There were 13569 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2020 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CLOV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLOV#NASDAQ">CLOV</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 245 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $3.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.5K, with a price of $81.0 per contract. There were 8018 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1529 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 35 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.2K, with a price of $382.0 per contract. There were 3468 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 566 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TMDX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMDX#NASDAQ">TMDX</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 63 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $617.0K, with a price of $6170.0 per contract. There were 1255 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 400 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 245 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 43 contract(s) at a $500.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.0K, with a price of $1095.0 per contract. There were 648 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 205 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding EXEL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXEL#NASDAQ">EXEL</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 189 day(s) on November 21, 2025. Parties traded 43 contract(s) at a $47.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.7K, with a price of $614.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 43 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ELV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 63 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 19 contract(s) at a $380.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.1K, with a price of $1480.0 per contract. There were 40 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

CLOV

EXEL

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

PHAT

TMDX

9 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-15/cvs-bids-for-rite-aid-stores-patient-files-in-pacific-northwest?embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-15/cvs-bids-for-rite-aid-stores-patient-files-in-pacific-northwest?embedded-checkout=true</a>

'CVS Bids For Rite Aid Stores, Patient Files in Pacific Northwest'- Bloomberg

President Donald Trump on Monday signed a sweeping executive order aimed at drastically reducing prescription <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/drug-prices">drug prices in the U.S. </a>
What Happened: The Trump administration wants to tie drug prices to the lowest amount paid in comparable foreign countries — a policy known as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45381118/cvs-health-cigna-stocks-dip-tuesday-whats-going-on">&#8220;most-favored-nation&#8221; pricing.</a>
The executive order is <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-actions-to-put-american-patients-first-by-lowering-drug-prices-and-stopping-foreign-free-riding-on-american-pharmaceutical-innovation/">a response</a> to what Trump described as &#8220;unreasonable or discriminatory&#8221; practices abroad. 
"In case after case, our citizens pay massively higher prices than other nations pay for the same exact pill, from the same factory, effectively subsidizing socialism aboard [abroad] with skyrocketing prices at home," Trump said in <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-actions-to-put-american-patients-first-by-lowering-drug-prices-and-stopping-foreign-free-riding-on-american-pharmaceutical-innovation/">a statement</a>.&nbsp;
Drug manufacturers have 30 days to voluntarily lower prices for prescription drugs in the U.S. to match those paid in other advanced nations.&nbsp;
If companies do not comply, the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is tasked with developing rules to enforce most-favored nation (MFN) pricing or other regulatory measures.&nbsp;
The HHS is also instructed to establish mechanisms for Americans to purchase drugs directly from manufacturers at the MFN price, bypassing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other intermediaries.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45378427/trump-wants-to-kickstart-nuclear-development-these-5-stocks-could-boom?utm_source=articleShare">Trump Wants To Kickstart Nuclear Development: These 5 Stocks Could Boom</a>&nbsp;
Why It Matters: The executive order is a rare show of common ground between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders, who has long fought for laws aimed at making medicine more affordable.
And Trump has tried this before. During his first term, he signed a similar <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-lowering-drug-prices-putting-america-first-2/">order</a> that the courts ultimately blocked after the pharmaceutical industry lobbied against it.
Sanders fears the same thing might happen again. In a <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:upw5n2uwhzubjajdtqaufsek/post/3loyh44tra225?ref_src=embed&amp;ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.commondreams.org%252Fnews%252Ftrump-executive-order-drug-prices">post</a> on the Bluesky social network, he agreed that it is &#8220;an outrage that the American people pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.&#8221;
&#8220;As Trump well knows, his executive order will be thrown out by the courts,&#8221; said Sanders. &#8220;If Trump is serious about making real change rather than just issuing a press release, he will support legislation I will soon be introducing to make sure we pay no more for prescription drugs than people in other major countries. If Republicans and Democrats come together on this legislation, we can get it passed in a few weeks.&#8221;
Pharmaceutical stocks dropped in Monday's premarket trading, but recovered into positive territory by the market close.
Analysts and investors decided the order was less-specific than feared and likely to be challenged in court.&nbsp;
"A drug pricing announcement had been expected for a while now and had weighed on stocks in this sector, so the official executive order doesn&#8217;t seem to be impacting sentiment too much,&#8221; said James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital Management, per Reuters.&nbsp;
In contrast, Trump&#8217;s comments of &#8220;cutting out the middlemen&#8221; weighed on shares of companies that own pharmacy benefit managers like The Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) and UnitedHeath Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>).&nbsp;
"I would cut out the middlemen," Trump said. "Everybody should equalize. Everybody should pay the same price."
Shares of UnitedHealth plunged Tuesday after<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance"> the company</a> pulled its 2025 outlook, citing that care activity continued to accelerate and CEO Andrew Witty unexpectedly resigned.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45354683/tesla-probably-wont-make-money-on-ride-hailing-for-years-gary-black-says?utm_source=articleShare">Tesla Robotaxi Hopes Dashed By Uber, Lyft: No Fast Lane To Profits, Warns Investor Gary Black&nbsp;</a>
What To Watch: The executive order threatens the PBM business model by enabling direct-to-consumer drug purchases, which could significantly reduce the need for PBMs&#8217; negotiating and administrative services. However, legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of direct-to-consumer sales.&nbsp;
"This order's suggestion of broader or direct-to-consumer importation stretches well beyond what the statute allows," warned health policy lawyer, Paul Kim, per the New York Post.&nbsp;
Investors in the healthcare sector may choose to mitigate risk and exposure to PBMs through a diversified healthcare ETF like the SPDR Select Health Care Sector Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) which holds shares of pharmaceuticals, health care equipment and supplies and health care providers.&nbsp;
An ETF like the iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITI#NYSE">ITI</a>) which tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Medical Equipment Index and invests in leading U.S. medical device companies also offers exposure to the healthcare industry while reducing exposure to pharmaceutical benefit managers.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45319531/cathie-wood?utm_source=articleShare">Cathie Wood Says AI Will &#8216;Disrupt The Traditional World Order&#8217; And Replace Search Engines Like Google</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Large Cap

Sector ETFs

Specialty ETFs

Politics

Movers

ETFs

Trump Again Promises Lower Drug Prices By 'Cutting Out Middlemen' Like UnitedHealth, CVS: Will It Work This Time?

CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) and The Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>) shares trading lower Tuesday. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42517567/cvs-cigna-unitedhealth-shares-slide-as-trump-targets-drug-middleman">of prescription drugs.</a>
What To Know: According to the Wall Street Journal, the executive order directs Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to coordinate with pharmaceutical companies over the next month to lower drug prices. It also directs both the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department to take steps to combat unreasonable and discriminatory policies in foreign countries.
The order essentially aims to tie U.S. drug prices to those paid by other countries, many of which pay less due to government-negotiated rates. Trump said the order equalizes costs, arguing that Americans have been subsidizing cheaper prices abroad.
It also allows for Kennedy to impose rules and restrictions on drug companies and imports, if the companies don&#8217;t lower prices within 180 days.
The order doesn't clarify whether the pricing changes would affect Medicare or Medicaid.
CVS owns CVS Caremark and Cigna owns Express Scripts, both of which operate as pharmacy benefit managers (PBM). Investors may be reacting to the executive order's potential to undercut PBM revenues by tying U.S. drug prices to international rates rather than prices negotiated by PBMs.
CVS and Cigna may also be under pressure after UnitedHealth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance">suspended its guidance</a>, as investors consider whether the same factors could impact the broader industry.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45376610/xrp-price-surges-amid-bullish-technical-indicators-sees-more-institutional-adoption">XRP Price Surges Amid Bullish Technical Indicators, Sees More Institutional Adoption</a>
Price Action: At the time of writing, CVS shares are trading 4.83% lower at $61.73 and Cigna shares are trading 2.68% lower at $307.29, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/login">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Image: via Shutterstock

CVS Health, Cigna Stocks Dip Tuesday: What's Going On?

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund

Shares of health insurance stocks are trading lower after UnitedHealth suspended its 2025 outlook as medical expenditures were expected to be larger than anticipated.

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on CVS Health. Our analysis of options history for CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) revealed 10 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 40% of traders were bullish, while 40% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 8 were puts, with a value of $329,770, and 2 were calls, valued at $201,958.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $63.0 to $70.0 for CVS Health during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for CVS Health options trades today is 2262.5 with a total volume of 4,453.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for CVS Health's big money trades within a strike price range of $63.0 to $70.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>CVS Health Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747144863_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$1.37</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>$1.27</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$126.5K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/30/25</td>
<td>$2.16</td>
<td>$2.1</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$63.00</td>
<td>$87.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>704</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$1.31</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$75.4K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>107</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/30/25</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$2.31</td>
<td>$2.4</td>
<td>$63.00</td>
<td>$48.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>972</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/30/25</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$63.00</td>
<td>$43.5K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>924</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About CVS Health</h3>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the US. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 27 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all existing business lines.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding CVS Health, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is CVS Health Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 2,066,081, the CVS's price is down by -4.79%, now at $61.7. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 85 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for CVS Health</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $80.4.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Truist Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on CVS Health, which currently sits at a price target of $84. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on CVS Health with a target price of $84. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from UBS continues to hold a Neutral rating for CVS Health, targeting a price of $71. 
&#x2A; An analyst from RBC Capital persists with their Outperform rating on CVS Health, maintaining a target price of $81. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Overweight rating on CVS Health with a target price of $82. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest CVS Health options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

CVS Health Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald maintains CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $82 to $84.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on CVS Health, Raises Price Target to $84

Shares of health insurance stocks and pharmacy benefit mangers are trading lower amid President Trump's executive order on drug pricing.

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/trump-drug-pricing-order-most-favored-nation.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/trump-drug-pricing-order-most-favored-nation.html</a>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>President Donald Trump will revive a controversial policy that aims to slash drug costs by tying the amount the government pays for some medicines to lower prices abroad, White House officials said.</li>
<li>The order is a blow to the pharmaceutical industry, which is already bracing for Trump&#39;s planned tariffs on prescription drugs.</li>
<li>It is Trump&#39;s latest effort to try to rein in U.S. prescription drug prices, which are two to three times higher on average than those in other developed nations.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

MRNA

'Trump To Sign Order To Cut Some U.S. Drug Prices To Match Those Abroad' - CNBC

One year ago, we established a concentrated position in shares of&nbsp;CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>). Since our purchases in May 2024,&nbsp;CVS shares have generated a total return of 25% reflecting initial progress in the long-term cultural and operational turnaround underway at the Company. &nbsp;Our position size afforded us the scale necessary to constructively engage with the Board, Management, and fellow Shareholders in Q3 2024 on a multi-faceted performance improvement plan:
<ol>
<li>Board Refreshment&nbsp;– The Board welcomed four new Directors including Larry Robbins, Glenview's CEO, and recently appointed a strong Lead Independent Director.&nbsp; The entire Board is operating cooperatively and cohesively; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Strengthening Culture and Leadership&nbsp;– CVS's leadership has undergone significant transformation under new CEO David Joyner's leadership, combining internal promotion with external recruitment while strengthening a customer-centric, accountable culture; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Operational Intensity&nbsp;– CVS exceeded consensus earnings expectations over the past two quarters and has seen operating strength and early signs of recovery across its businesses; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Risk Management&nbsp;– The Company has suspended material acquisitions, committed to deleveraging, strengthened its insurance reserve levels and established a clear path to sustainable returns on capital that will fuel future customer service and benefit stability; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Portfolio Enhancement and Innovation&nbsp;– CVS has exited or transitioned certain lines of business where economics prevent a sustainable commitment to customers while leading the industry with transparent and value-added solutions to reduce cost and complexity; and &nbsp;</li>
<li>Opportunistic Capital Deployment&nbsp;– In combination, CVS has marched closer to the time in which share repurchase can be both a responsible consideration and a creator of long-term shareholder value.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Following healthy Q1 results and increased annual guidance, Glenview reduced its overall holdings by 3.75 million shares consistent with our fund's diversification parameters and to create buying power for further unique opportunities in this volatile macro environment.&nbsp;With this rebalancing, CVS Health remains our largest position, and we have no plans for additional adjustments to our CVS holdings.&nbsp; Our confidence in the near, medium, and long-term outlook for CVS remains strong.&nbsp;
We are grateful for the engagement and enthusiasm of the entire CVS Health team in the revitalization efforts well underway and are fully committed to making continued contributions to the vitality and long-term success of this iconic institution that strengthens the health of 185 million people.
Together we grow.
&nbsp;

Management

Glenview Capital Issues Statement On CVS Health; Highlights 25% Return On CVS Health Investment Since May 2024 As Turnaround Gains Traction, Citing Board Refresh, Cultural And Leadership Overhaul Under New CEO, Operational Gains, Deleveraging, Strategic Business Exits, And Renewed Capital Discipline; Says CVS Remains Firm's Largest Holding After Modest Rebalancing

Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Baxter maintains CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $76 to $84.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on CVS Health, Raises Price Target to $84

RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix maintains CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $74 to $81.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on CVS Health, Raises Price Target to $81

UBS analyst Kevin Caliendo maintains CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $67 to $71.

UBS Maintains Neutral on CVS Health, Raises Price Target to $71

In the last three months, 10 analysts have published ratings on CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $76.3, a high estimate of $82.00, and a low estimate of $71.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $67.60, the current average has increased by 12.87%.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746212421_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive CVS Health. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ann Hynes</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Tassan</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$68.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Cherny</td>
<td>Leerink Partners</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to CVS Health. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of CVS Health compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of CVS Health's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into CVS Health's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVS/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on CVS Health analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About CVS Health</h2>
CVS Health offers a diverse set of healthcare services. Its roots are in its retail pharmacy operations, where it operates over 9,000 stores primarily in the US. CVS is also a large pharmacy benefit manager (acquired through Caremark), processing about 2 billion adjusted claims annually. It also operates a top-tier health insurer (acquired through Aetna) where it serves about 27 million medical members. The company's recent acquisition of Oak Street adds primary care services to the mix, which could have significant synergies with all existing business lines.
<h3>CVS Health's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is above the industry average, indicating that it is relatively larger in size compared to peers. This may suggest a higher level of investor confidence and market recognition.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3M period, CVS Health showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 4.15% as of 31 December, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Net Margin: CVS Health's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 1.68%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): CVS Health's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 2.18%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): CVS Health's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 0.65%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 1.1, CVS Health adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Glimpse Into The Expert Outlook On CVS Health Through 10 Analysts

Novo Nordisk A/S&#8217; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) Canada unit on Thursday announced that Health Canada has accepted for review, under the Priority Review policy, its supplemental new drug submission (sNDS) for semaglutide 2.4 mg, a once-weekly therapy for people living with MASH <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/weight-loss" rel="noreferrer noopener">(metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis)</a>.
&#8220;Semaglutide 2.4 mg represents a therapeutic advancement for patients living with MASH, addressing a critical unmet medical need,&#8221; <a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/health-canada-accepts-semaglutide-2-4-mg-a-glp-1ra-treatment-for-mash-as-a-supplemental-new-drug-submission-under-the-priority-review-policy-881682700.html#:~:text=Semaglutide%20injection%202.4%20mg%20is,%E2%89%A5%2027%20kg%2Fm2.&amp;text=Semaglutide%20is%20not%20approved%20in%20Canada%20for%20the%20treatment%20of%20MASH." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says</a> Vince Lamanna, President of Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. &#8220;Health Canada&#8217;s acceptance of the Semaglutide 2.4 mg submission for review brings us one step closer to providing the first treatment option for eligible people living with MASH.&#8221;
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/04/44934811/eli-lilly-positioned-to-dominate-obesity-market-with-oral-option-analyst-initiates-with-confidence" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eli Lilly Positioned To Dominate Obesity Market With Oral Option, Analyst Initiates With Confidence</a>
In November 2024, Health Canada approved Wegovy (semaglutide injection) to <a href="https://www.novonordisk.ca/content/dam/nncorp/ca/en/press-releases/2024/wegovy-non-fatal-mi-indication-announcement-press-release-112624.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce</a> the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a  BMI equal to or greater than 27 kg/m2.
It was the first Health Canada-approved treatment to support both chronic weight management and to reduce the risk of non-fatal MI.
MASH is a chronic, progressive metabolic disease affecting the liver.
Among people who are overweight or have obesity, about one in three also have MASH.
Excess fat can build up in the liver, which, over time, can lead to inflammation and severe scarring of the liver.
By 2030, the prevalence of MASH in the Canadian general population is estimated to increase from 5.2% to 6.5%.
In&nbsp;Canada, the number of deaths is expected to double in people living with MASH by 2030.
On Thursday, Novo Nordisk announced that&nbsp;CVS Health Inc's&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)&nbsp;CVS Caremark, a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM), decided that Wegovy&nbsp;(semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg will soon be the preferred&nbsp;GLP-1&nbsp;medicine on its largest commercial&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45147328/cvs-caremark-to-place-novo-nordisks-wegovy-on-preferred-coverage-for-glp-1-weight-loss-treatment" rel="noreferrer noopener">template formularies</a>.
This change will take effect on&nbsp;July 1, 2025.&nbsp;
In February, the FDA confirmed that all doses of Wegovy were available. In March, Novo Nordisk launched NovoCare Pharmacy to provide direct-to-patient, convenient home shipments of all Wegovy dose strengths at a reduced cost of $499 per month for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44143391/novo-nordisk-boosts-wegovy-access-with-lower-pricing-and-home-delivery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">self-paying patients</a>.
More recently, the Wegovy&nbsp;savings offer was updated, allowing eligible self-paying patients to get the&nbsp;$499-per-month price at their local pharmacy.
On Tuesday,&nbsp;Novo Nordisk and&nbsp;Hims &amp; Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>) announced a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45074872/hims-hers-stock-surges-as-it-collaborates-with-novo-nordisk-to-sell-weight-loss-drug-wegovy-on-its-platform" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-term collaboration</a>.
The company said that individuals may be prescribed Wegovy at a single, unified price starting at $599 per month. The offering is available this week on the Hims &amp; Hers platform.
This new offering builds on Hims &amp; Hers&#8217; existing suite of weight loss solutions and provides self-pay patients with access to all dose strengths of Wegovy in a high-quality pen.
Price Action: NVO stock is up 5.5% at $69.21at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45170554/dupont-delivers-strong-q1-highlights-electronics-spin-off-confirms-2025-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DuPont Delivers Strong Q1, Highlights Electronics Spin-Off, Confirms 2025 Guidance</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:11 PMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$50.00	Feb 21, 2025	-90	1412	350	19	7628	SWEEP	BEARISH
02:58 PMFeb 19, 2025	CALL	$52.50	Mar 21, 2025	-62	4	500	0	5506	TRADE	BULLISH
12:40 PMFeb 14, 2025	PUT	$65.00	Jan 16, 2026	239	2002	2000	35	5799	TRADE	BULLISH
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