CVS Health Corporation $CVS Shares Purchased by Maryland State Retirement & Pension System

Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lifted its stake in CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) by 14.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 78,768 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 10,199 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System’s holdings in CVS Health were worth $6,750,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ritholtz Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of CVS Health by 7.6% during the third quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 27,787 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $2,381,000 after acquiring an additional 1,967 shares in the last quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC boosted its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 5.7% in the third quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC now owns 3,620 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the period. Altman Advisors Inc. bought a new position in CVS Health in the third quarter worth approximately $1,978,000. Machina Capital S.A.S. bought a new position in CVS Health in the third quarter worth approximately $846,000. Finally, Silver Grove Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in CVS Health by 17.8% in the third quarter. Silver Grove Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,270 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $109,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.66% of the company’s stock.

CVS Health Price Performance

Shares of CVS opened at $89.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.85. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $89.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $89.00. CVS Health Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $69.51 and a fifty-two week high of $110.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $114.76 billion, a PE ratio of 10.44, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.58.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 4th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.44. The company had revenue of $108.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $104.72 billion. CVS Health had a net margin of 2.62% and a return on equity of 13.65%. CVS Health’s revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.60 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that CVS Health Corporation will post 8.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CVS Health Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 22nd were given a dividend of $0.6650 per share. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 22nd. CVS Health’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on CVS Health from $108.00 to $107.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 5th. Raymond James Financial set a $103.00 target price on CVS Health in a report on Friday, November 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $103.00 price target on shares of CVS Health in a research report on Wednesday, November 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded CVS Health from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. Twenty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $107.79.

Insider Transactions at CVS Health

In related news, EVP Prem Shah purchased 23,855 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $83.89 per share, for a total transaction of $2,001,195.95. Following the acquisition, the executive vice president owned 88,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,425,607.24. The trade was a 36.89% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.85% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about CVS Health

These are some of the CVS headlines that stood out recently:

• Positive Sentiment: CVS’s planned 2028 split could sharpen strategic focus and improve capital allocation, potentially unlocking value in its businesses. Wells Fargo kept an “overweight” rating and sees its $112 price target as implying upside, despite lowering the target from $123. Article: Can CVS Health’s 2028 Split Unlock Value Despite Execution Risks?
• Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo’s price-target cut signals more cautious valuation assumptions, though its continued overweight rating indicates the analyst remains positive on CVS. Article: Wells Fargo rating and price target
• Negative Sentiment: The split is not a guaranteed catalyst: coverage highlights separation costs and execution risks, while Aetna’s recovery and stronger pharmacy profits are weighed against PBM pressures and declining membership. Senator Elizabeth Warren has also criticized the plan, suggesting political scrutiny may continue. Article: Is CVS Stock Worth Buying as Aetna Recovers but PBM Risks Persist?

CVS Health Profile

CVS Health is a U.S.-based health care company that operates retail pharmacies, provides pharmacy benefit management services, and offers health insurance and other health services. Its businesses include CVS Pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark, and Aetna, its health benefits division. The company also provides care through MinuteClinic walk-in clinics and health care businesses including Oak Street Health and Signify Health. Its services span prescription fulfillment, pharmacy benefit management, health insurance, primary care, and in-home and community-based care.