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CVS Health Corp (CVS)
NYSE:CVS

CVS Health (CVS) AI Stock Analysis

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CVS

CVS Health

(NYSE:CVS)

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Neutral 55 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:55Neutral
Price Target:
$78.00
▲(0.32% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by sharply weakened profitability and a very high P/E valuation, despite solid cash generation. Reaffirmed 2026 guidance and operational improvements (notably Aetna and pharmacy momentum) provide support, while technical indicators point to mildly negative near-term momentum.
Positive Factors
Diversified business model and scale
CVS’s integrated mix of retail pharmacy, PBM (Caremark) and Aetna insurance creates durable revenue diversification and large scale. Record revenues reflect cross-selling and operational synergies that support stable cash flows and resilience to single-segment shocks over coming quarters.
Strong free cash flow generation
Material FCF growth improves CVS’s ability to fund investments, pay dividends, and service debt. Robust cash generation enhances strategic optionality for technology, clinic investments and buybacks, and provides a buffer against episodic margin pressure or regulatory-driven cost increases.
Medicare Advantage quality leadership
Strong Star ratings translate into higher quality bonus payments, better beneficiary retention, and competitive positioning in Medicare Advantage. This structural advantage supports durable membership growth and steadier risk-adjusted revenue versus lower-rated peers.
Negative Factors
Severe profitability compression and low ROE
Sharp margin compression and near-zero ROE indicate weak conversion of sales into shareholder returns despite scale. Sustained low profitability reduces reinvestment returns, limits margin of safety for strategic moves, and makes long-term EPS growth targets harder to achieve without efficiency gains.
Large goodwill impairment in Health Care Delivery
A sizable goodwill write-down signals overpaid acquisitions or execution shortfalls in the Health Care Delivery segment. This weakens book equity, constrains future return on invested capital, and suggests structural challenges integrating or scaling clinic assets profitably over the medium term.
Regulatory and antitrust scrutiny of PBM practices
Intensified antitrust scrutiny of PBM conduct risks regulatory remedies, restrictions on contracting practices, and legislative changes that could structurally reduce PBM margin and negotiating leverage. Potential remedies would affect long-term revenue and competitive positioning in drug distribution.

CVS Health (CVS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

CVS Health Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCVS Health Corporation provides health services in the United States. The company's Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services. It serves employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Its Pharmacy Services segment offers pharmacy benefit management solutions, including plan design and administration, formulary management, retail pharmacy network management, mail order pharmacy, specialty pharmacy and infusion, clinical, and disease and medical spend management services. It serves employers, insurance companies, unions, government employee groups, health plans, prescription drug plans, Medicaid managed care plans, plans offered on public health insurance and private health insurance exchanges, other sponsors of health benefit plans, and individuals. This segment operates retail specialty pharmacy stores; and specialty mail-order, mail-order dispensing, and compounding pharmacies, as well as branches for infusion and enteral nutrition services. The company's Retail/LTC segment sells prescription and over-the-counter drugs, consumer health and beauty products, and personal care products; and provides health care services through its MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics. This segment also distributes prescription drugs; and provides related pharmacy consulting and other ancillary services to care facilities and other care settings. As of December 31, 2021, it operated approximately 9,900 retail locations and 1,200 MinuteClinic locations, as well as online retail pharmacy websites, LTC pharmacies, and onsite pharmacies. The company was formerly known as CVS Caremark Corporation and changed its name to CVS Health Corporation in September 2014. CVS Health Corporation was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
How the Company Makes MoneyCVS Health generates revenue primarily through three key streams: retail pharmacy sales, pharmacy benefits management (PBM), and health insurance services. Retail pharmacy sales contribute significantly to revenue through the dispensing of prescription medications and over-the-counter products. The PBM segment, which manages prescription drug benefits for employers and health plans, generates revenue through service fees and rebates from drug manufacturers. The health insurance division, primarily through Aetna, earns revenue from premiums paid by members for various health plans. Additionally, CVS Health benefits from strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders, enhancing its service offerings and revenue potential.

CVS Health Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down sales across different business units, revealing which areas contribute most to growth and where the company might face challenges or opportunities.
Chart InsightsCVS Health's revenue growth is driven by strong performances in Health Care Benefits and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness, with the latter seeing a 12% increase. Despite a goodwill impairment in Health Care Delivery, the company remains optimistic, raising its full-year EPS guidance. The Health Services segment shows recovery, while Intersegment revenue continues to decline, reflecting internal adjustments. CVS anticipates mid-teens EPS growth in 2026, bolstered by strategic initiatives and technology investments, although PBM challenges present near-term risks.
Data provided by:The Fly

CVS Health Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlighted multiple clear operational and financial improvements across the enterprise — strong revenue growth, meaningful EPS and cash‑flow outperformance for 2025, substantial YoY profit recovery at Aetna, robust pharmacy momentum (same‑store and script gains), sizable client savings and strategic wins (cost‑based reimbursement, TrueCost, HUMIRA biosimilar adoption). Key challenges include an unfavorable preliminary 2027 Medicare Advantage rate notice, a Q4 adjusted operating loss in Health Care Benefits driven by Part D seasonality, membership declines in certain blocks, regulatory uncertainty for PBM dynamics and persistent elevated medical cost trends. Overall, the positive operational momentum, reaffirmed 2026 guidance, and improved cash and leverage profile outweigh the headwinds, though management noted material risks they are actively addressing.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong FY2025 Financial Performance
Full year 2025 revenue exceeded $400 billion, adjusted EPS of $6.75 (approximately 15% above initial expectations), and operating cash flow of $10.6 billion, meaningfully outperforming initial expectations and demonstrating strong cash generation.
Solid Fourth Quarter Results
Q4 revenue topped $105 billion, up over 8% year-over-year; adjusted operating income of ~$2.6 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.09; quarterly cash flow from operations of approximately $3.4 billion.
Aetna Profitability Improvement
Aetna delivered a year-over-year adjusted operating income improvement of over $2.6 billion in 2025, strengthened leadership and culture, maintained a leading Stars position, and received the inaugural Press Ganey Health Plan of the Year award.
Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness Momentum
Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness posted nearly $38 billion in Q4 revenue (+12% YoY), same-store total revenues +16% and same-store pharmacy sales +19%; same-store prescription volumes rose nearly 10%; retail pharmacy script share grew to over 29%. Q4 adjusted operating income for the segment was over $1.9 billion (+~9% YoY) and full-year AOI for the segment exceeded $6 billion (+~4.5% YoY).
Health Services Strength
Health Services generated over $51 billion in Q4 revenue (+9% YoY) and delivered adjusted operating income of approximately $1.9 billion (+~9% YoY). Health Care Delivery revenues (ex-CVS Accountable Care) grew ~21% YoY, driven by patient growth at Oak Street Health.
Operational & Strategic Wins (Retail & PBM)
CVS Pharmacy completed transition to cost‑based reimbursement and established a new trajectory of at least flat earnings annually starting in 2026; Caremark continues to evolve (TrueCost) and the company expects recent PBM legislation to be manageable and potentially accelerate TrueCost adoption.
Material Cost Savings Delivered for Clients & Members
Company reported Aetna network negotiations yielded over $235 billion of savings, Caremark negotiations deliver an incremental $45 billion annually, totaling over $280 billion of annual savings; HUMIRA biosimilar strategy achieved ~96% adoption and $0 out-of-pocket for >80% of members, creating >$1.5 billion of savings for clients and members.
Improved Balance Sheet & Liquidity Actions
Year-end cash at parent and unrestricted subsidiaries totaled approximately $2.8 billion; leverage ratio improved to ~4x (meaningful improvement vs. prior year) and management expects further deleveraging as earnings improve.
Reaffirmed 2026 Guidance
Company reaffirmed full year 2026 revenue target of at least $400 billion and adjusted EPS guidance of $7.00 to $7.20, and updated 2026 operating cash flow outlook to at least $9 billion while noting cumulative cash flow across 2025–2026 has increased by >$1.5 billion.
Signify & In-Home Care Impact
Signify clinicians provide in-home provider-led evaluations for over 3.5 million consumers annually, facilitating over 500,000 connections (including nearly 100,000 urgent escalations), highlighting clinical reach and value in closing gaps in care.
Negative Updates
Medicare Advantage Rate Pressure (2027 Advanced Rate Notice)
Management called the preliminary 2027 Medicare Advantage advanced rate notice 'disappointing' and stated proposed rates do not match current medical cost trends; company is actively advocating with CMS and noted potential margin pressure in MA despite ongoing commitment to margin recovery.
Health Care Benefits Q4 Loss and Membership Decline
Health Care Benefits generated an adjusted operating loss of $676 million in Q4 (a modestly higher loss YoY). Medical membership ended at ~26.6 million, down ~500,000 year-over-year and down slightly sequentially, driven by declines in Individual Exchange and Government businesses.
Risk Adjustment & Flu Provision Impact
Deterioration of risk adjustment position in the Individual Exchange business plus a late-quarter provision for increased flu activity contributed to pressure on results; combination of Q4 items (including Medicaid pass-throughs) had an ~20 basis point impact on full-year MBR (91.2%).
Seasonality / IRA Impact on Medicare Part D
Changes in Medicare Part D seasonality due to the Inflation Reduction Act affected Q4 results and contributed to the Health Care Benefits segment weakness and higher medical benefit ratio dynamics.
PBM & Regulatory Uncertainty
Ongoing regulatory scrutiny (including FTC matters) and evolving PBM legislation introduce uncertainty; management noted guaranteed rebates and reimbursement pressures as headwinds in 2026, though they view legislation as manageable and potentially accelerating TrueCost adoption.
Timing of Cash Receipts and 2026 Cash Flow Guide
Certain payments shifted from early 2026 into late 2025 (helping 2025 cash flow), leading to a revised 2026 operating cash flow outlook of at least $9 billion (slightly down vs. prior expectations), reflecting timing rather than operational deterioration.
Elevated Medical Cost Trends
Management stated medical cost trends remain elevated across products and reiterated a roughly 850 basis point expected increase in MBR between Q1 and Q4 in 2026 (slightly steeper than prior expectations), signaling continued cost pressures through the year.
Company Guidance
CVS reaffirmed full‑year 2026 guidance calling for adjusted EPS of $7.00–$7.20, revenue of at least $400 billion and operating cash flow of at least $9 billion, with an expected roughly 55/45 first‑half/second‑half earnings split and an anticipated Q1‑to‑Q4 medical benefit ratio increase of ~850 basis points; management noted that cumulative cash flow expectations for 2025–2026 have risen by more than $1.5 billion. For context, 2025 results included adjusted EPS of $6.75, revenue of over $400 billion and operating cash flow of $10.6 billion (Q4 cash flow ≈ $3.4 billion), and the company highlighted continued business momentum such as Aetna’s >$2.6 billion year‑over‑year adjusted operating income improvement and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness delivering >$6 billion of full‑year adjusted operating income with Q4 retail script share >29% and same‑store revenues up ~16%.

CVS Health Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Revenue is growing, and cash generation is solid (2025 operating cash flow $10.6B; free cash flow $7.8B), but profitability has deteriorated sharply (net income down to $1.8B in 2025 and margins compressed). The balance sheet is serviceable yet meaningfully levered (~$80B debt; debt-to-equity ~1.06), making earnings recovery important.
Income Statement
44
Neutral
Revenue has grown steadily over the last several years (about +4% in 2024 and accelerating to ~+8% in 2025), but profitability has deteriorated sharply. Net income fell from $8.3B (2023) to $4.6B (2024) and then to $1.8B (2025), driving net margins down to ~0.4% in 2025 versus ~2.3% in 2023. Gross margin has also compressed (roughly 18% in 2020–2021 to ~13.8% in 2024–2025), and operating profitability is notably weaker than prior years, which weighs heavily on earnings quality despite ongoing top-line expansion.
Balance Sheet
56
Neutral
The balance sheet looks serviceable but levered. Total debt is sizable at ~$80B in 2025, with debt running slightly above equity (debt-to-equity ~1.06 in 2025), broadly in line with recent years. Equity has remained relatively stable (~$75B), which supports financial flexibility, but returns on equity have dropped meaningfully (from ~11% in 2021–2023 to ~6% in 2024 and ~2% in 2025), reflecting weaker profitability rather than balance sheet expansion. Leverage is manageable for the scale of the business, but the declining returns increase risk if earnings don’t recover.
Cash Flow
63
Positive
Cash generation remains a relative strength. Operating cash flow was $10.6B in 2025 (up from $9.1B in 2024) and free cash flow increased to $7.8B (strong growth vs. 2024), indicating improved cash conversion year over year. However, free cash flow is still below earlier peaks (e.g., ~$13–$16B in 2020–2022), and free cash flow as a share of net income fell to ~0.73 in 2025 (from ~0.83–0.86 in 2020–2022), suggesting cash flow is not fully keeping pace with reported earnings dynamics. Overall, the company is still producing solid cash, but the trend is less consistent versus earlier years.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue402.07B372.81B357.78B322.47B292.11B
Gross Profit55.36B51.40B54.43B54.50B52.12B
EBITDA9.86B13.68B18.20B12.35B17.53B
Net Income1.77B4.61B8.34B4.31B8.00B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets261.06B253.22B249.73B228.28B233.00B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments10.66B10.99B11.46B15.72B12.53B
Total Debt93.59B82.92B79.39B70.73B76.00B
Total Liabilities185.68B177.49B173.09B156.51B157.62B
Stockholders Equity75.21B75.56B76.46B71.47B75.08B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow7.81B6.33B10.39B13.45B15.74B
Operating Cash Flow10.64B9.11B13.43B16.18B18.27B
Investing Cash Flow-5.87B-7.61B-20.89B-5.05B-5.26B
Financing Cash Flow-4.94B-1.14B2.68B-10.52B-11.36B

CVS Health Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price77.75
Price Trends
50DMA
78.13
Negative
100DMA
77.93
Negative
200DMA
71.62
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.22
Negative
RSI
50.44
Neutral
STOCH
79.13
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CVS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 77.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 77.42, below the 50-day MA of 78.13, and above the 200-day MA of 71.62, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.22 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 50.44 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.13 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CVS.

CVS Health Risk Analysis

CVS Health disclosed 40 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. CVS Health reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

CVS Health Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
65
Neutral
$261.87B21.842.69%10.48%24.25%
65
Neutral
$76.09B13.6813.29%1.99%11.96%-11.11%
55
Neutral
$99.49B56.222.35%3.41%6.71%-90.11%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
51
Neutral
$20.27B-3.16-28.79%14.92%-286.72%
48
Neutral
$6.99B16.6711.02%13.71%-18.02%
46
Neutral
$22.25B18.806.98%1.38%9.87%-5.58%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CVS
CVS Health
77.75
15.05
24.01%
CNC
Centene
43.07
-15.41
-26.35%
HUM
Humana
187.12
-80.44
-30.06%
MOH
Molina Healthcare
142.61
-148.85
-51.07%
UNH
UnitedHealth
288.20
-202.14
-41.22%
ELV
Elevance Health
346.24
-36.85
-9.62%

CVS Health Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
CVS Health Unveils Strategic Vision at Investor Day
Positive
Dec 9, 2025

On December 9, 2025, CVS Health held its 2025 Investor Day, where it updated its financial guidance for 2025 and provided projections for 2026, highlighting a strategic focus on transforming consumer experiences and leveraging its enterprise capabilities. The company aims for a mid-teens Adjusted EPS CAGR through 2028 and announced a new open consumer engagement platform to simplify care and improve health. This strategic direction is expected to enhance CVS Health’s role in the healthcare sector, offering significant value to stakeholders and positioning the company as a central player in shaping the future of healthcare.

The most recent analyst rating on (CVS) stock is a Buy with a $87.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on CVS Health stock, see the CVS Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
CVS Health Appoints J. David Joyner as Board Chair
Positive
Nov 20, 2025

On November 20, 2025, CVS Health announced the appointment of J. David Joyner as Chair of the Board, effective January 1, 2026. Joyner, who became President and CEO in October 2024, has driven significant improvements in the company’s performance. The Board believes his leadership will help execute long-term strategies and create stockholder value. This move reflects CVS Health’s commitment to simplifying healthcare and delivering better health outcomes across the country.

The most recent analyst rating on (CVS) stock is a Buy with a $102.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on CVS Health stock, see the CVS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 11, 2026