Franklin Resources Inc. Sells 453,717 Shares of CVS Health Corporation $CVS

Franklin Resources Inc. lessened its stake in CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) by 5.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,200,896 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock after selling 453,717 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.57% of CVS Health worth $542,876,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of CVS Health by 1.7% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 120,399,131 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $8,305,132,000 after buying an additional 2,063,737 shares during the period. Capital World Investors grew its stake in shares of CVS Health by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 68,382,158 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $5,155,380,000 after acquiring an additional 1,419,575 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in CVS Health by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,788,585 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $4,055,237,000 after acquiring an additional 800,414 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in CVS Health by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 28,635,233 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $1,966,083,000 after acquiring an additional 675,824 shares during the period. Finally, Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in CVS Health by 1.1% during the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 26,692,203 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $2,012,347,000 after purchasing an additional 302,499 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.66% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting CVS Health

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

• Positive Sentiment: CVS announced a new AI‑powered health platform aimed at personalized care and virtual services — a strategic push that could boost member engagement, cross‑sell and longer‑term margin improvement. CVS to launch new AI-powered health platform
• Positive Sentiment: The CVS Health Foundation is investing $2.24M to launch a Health Zone in Columbus to expand community‑based care — a reputational and community‑health play that supports retention and local partnerships. CVS Health Foundation Invests $2.24 Million to Expand Community‑Based Care Through Health Impact Ohio
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage on CVS using “agentic twins” (AI agents) to develop consumer tech highlights continued investment in digital capabilities that could improve patient experience and lower service costs over time. A look at how CVS is leaning on ‘agentic twins’ in developing consumer tech
• Neutral Sentiment: Health‑care sector weakness is a headwind today; the NYSE Health Care Index is down, which can pressure CVS even absent company‑specific news. Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Lower Late Afternoon
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader market rotation into energy stocks is noted (energy index higher), which can reallocate flows away from defensive healthcare names. Sector Update: Energy Stocks Higher Late Afternoon
• Neutral Sentiment: A head‑to‑head comparison piece with Sotera Health appears informational rather than price‑moving. Head-To-Head Comparison: Sotera Health (NASDAQ:SHC) and CVS Health (NYSE:CVS)
• Negative Sentiment: CVS’s Aetna unit will pay $117.7M to settle False Claims Act allegations about inflated Medicare Advantage coding — a material fine that signals regulatory scrutiny of MA practices and could increase compliance costs. CVS Health’s Aetna to Pay $117.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
• Negative Sentiment: An FDA‑related recall involving MediHoney and some CVS wound care products over sterility concerns raises product liability and inventory/distribution disruption risks for store‑brand items. FDA announces recall for MediHoney and CVS Wound Care Products Due to Sterility Concerns
• Negative Sentiment: Legislative friction (Tennessee Fair Rx Act debate) highlights state‑level political risk around drug pricing and retail clinic operations that could lead to regulatory costs or business model constraints. Here’s what the ‘Fair Rx’ Act does and does not do amid the battle between Tennessee legislators and CVS Health

CVS Health Price Performance

CVS Health stock opened at $75.74 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $96.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.88, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $77.72. CVS Health Corporation has a 52 week low of $58.35 and a 52 week high of $85.15.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $105.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $103.67 billion. CVS Health had a return on equity of 11.31% and a net margin of 0.44%.The company’s revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.19 EPS. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.940-6.140 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that CVS Health Corporation will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CVS Health Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 22nd were given a dividend of $0.665 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 22nd. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. CVS Health’s payout ratio is presently 192.75%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on CVS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of CVS Health from $93.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of CVS Health from $87.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of CVS Health in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of CVS Health from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and set a $101.00 target price (up from $99.00) on shares of CVS Health in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Nineteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.91.

CVS Health Company Profile

CVS Health Corporation is a diversified healthcare company that operates a large network of retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefit management services and health care solutions. Headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the company traces its roots to the early 1960s and has grown into an integrated provider of prescription drugs, over‑the‑counter products, clinical services and health insurance offerings. Its operating model combines retail pharmacy locations and in‑store clinics with broader pharmacy and health plan capabilities.

Key business activities include CVS Pharmacy retail operations, MinuteClinic walk‑in medical clinics and HealthHUB locations that offer expanded clinical services.