CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) Cut to Buy at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Monday,Wall Street Zen reports.

CVS has been the subject of several other research reports. Barclays raised their target price on CVS Health from $106.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of CVS Health from $103.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of CVS Health from $108.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. BMO Capital Markets set a $112.00 price target on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on shares of CVS Health from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Twenty investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CVS Health presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $107.80.

CVS Health Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CVS opened at $93.62 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $91.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $93.63. CVS Health has a 1-year low of $69.51 and a 1-year high of $110.68. The firm has a market cap of $119.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $106.10 billion during 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%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.81 earnings per share. CVS Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-8.100 EPS. Analysts anticipate that CVS Health will post 8.02 earnings per share for the current year.

CVS Health Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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 is Thursday, October 22nd. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. CVS Health’s dividend payout ratio is 70.37%.

Institutional Trading of CVS Health

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kilter Group LLC purchased a new stake in CVS Health in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Sankala Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of CVS Health during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of CVS Health by 344.8% during the first quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 387 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp purchased a new position in shares of CVS Health during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 201.0% in the second quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 292 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.66% of the company’s stock.

More CVS Health News

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

• Positive Sentiment: CVS is expanding access through smaller, pharmacy-focused store formats in underserved communities. The strategy is intended to align locations with prescription demand, improve operating efficiency and support pharmacy growth. How Small Pharmacy Expansion Will Impact CVS Health Investors
• Positive Sentiment: MinuteClinic opened three new Massachusetts locations, including the first in Boston, broadening CVS’s retail healthcare footprint and potentially increasing patient traffic and service revenue. MinuteClinic Opens Three New Retail Medical Clinics
• Positive Sentiment: CVS is seeking to capture customers from Walgreens and Rite Aid as competitors close stores. The opportunity could support prescription volumes and strengthen CVS’s local market share. CVS Targets Former Walgreens and Rite Aid Customers
• Positive Sentiment: Aetna is streamlining prior authorizations, reporting that more than 95% of eligible requests are approved within 24 hours. Faster approvals may improve member experience and reduce administrative friction, although the direct financial effect is not yet quantified. How CVS Aetna Is Reducing Administrative Burden

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.