CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) 주식

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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S&amp;P 500 지수 상장 기업 중 거의 80%가 2025년 1분기에 수익 전망치를 상회했다. 이에 S&amp;P 500 지수는 13.3%의 수익 급등을 기록하며 2분기 연속 두 자릿수 퍼센트 성장률을 기록했다.

S&amp;P 500 1분기 이익 성장률, 광범위한 호실적 속 2분기 연속 두 자릿수 퍼센트 성장 기록

Shibuya,,Tokyo,,Japan,-,March,5,2022:,Exterior,Of,The

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2024년 S&amp;P 500 지수 순위표에는 의외의 이름과 익숙한 강자들이 포함되어 있다. 대형주 팔란티어 테크놀로지스(NASDAQ:PLTR)가 연초 대비 64% 급등하며 캐시 우드의 아크 인베스트 유니버스에서 유일하게 S&amp;P 500의 최고 수익률 목록에 이름을 올린 종목이다.

팔란티어: S&amp;P 500 급등주 중 캐시 우드가 선택한 유일한 종목

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유나이티드헬스 그룹(NYSE:UNH), 엘리반스 헬스(NYSE:ELV) 및 CVS 헬스(NYSE:CVS) 등 헬스케어 주식은 메디케어 및 메디케이드 서비스 센터 (CMS)가 메디케어 어드밴티지 (MA) 플랜에 대한 감사를 크게 확대한다고 발표 한 후 수요일 애프터마켓에서 급락했따.

유나이티드헬스·CVS헬스 등 헬스케어 주식 하락한 이유는?

CVS Health Corp

Morgan Stanley ETF Trust Calvert Ultra-Short Investment Grade ETF

CARDIOVASCULAR SCI INC by Cardiovascular Sciences, Inc.

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CVS Group PLC

CIVITAS SOCIAL HSG PLC by CIVITAS SOCIAL HSG PLC

CV Sciences Inc

COVISTA COMMUNS INC by Covista Communications, Inc,

Covista Communications Inc

CONVERGENCE SYS INC CL A by Convergence Systems Inc.

Convergence Systems Inc

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-expected-rule-obamacare-preventive-care-task-force-2025-06-27/" title="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-expected-rule-obamacare-preventive-care-task-force-2025-06-27/">https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-expected-rule-obamacare-preventive-care-task-force-2025-06-27/</a>
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CLOV

'US Supreme Court preserves key element of Obamacare preventive care'- Reuters

Shares of CVS Health Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) are trading higher Thursday afternoon. The stock is rising as a Republican legislative package targeting major tax and healthcare changes faces a considerable obstacle in the U.S. Senate.
What To Know: According to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/26/trump-tax-bill-medicaid-setback-senate/84367717007/">report</a> from USA TODAY, the Senate&#8217;s parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, ruled on June 26 that several key provisions aimed at overhauling Medicaid could not be included in the bill under the Senate&#8217;s budget reconciliation rules. 
The provisions, which included work requirements and restrictions for non-citizens, were designed to reduce federal spending on the health insurance program for lower-income families.
The ruling is being viewed as a major blow to the bill&#8217;s prospects as Democrats celebrated the decision. &#8220;Democrats fought and won, striking health care cuts from this bill that would hurt Americans walking on an economic tightrope," Senator Ron Wyden told USA TODAY.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46042224/donald-trump-jr-joins-mark-cuban-in-slamming-elizabeth-warren-on-healthcare-pricing">Donald Trump Jr. Joins Mark Cuban In Slamming Elizabeth Warren on Healthcare Pricing</a>
Why This Matters: This legislative setback is likely causing CVS stock to rise because a significant portion of the company&#8217;s revenue is tied to the stability of the American healthcare system, including programs like Medicaid. 
The proposed cuts to Medicaid, had they been successful, could have resulted in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage. This would directly translate to fewer prescriptions being filled at CVS pharmacies and a reduction in the number of members in the Aetna health insurance plans it owns. 
By blocking these cuts, the immediate threat to this substantial revenue stream is removed, providing investors with greater confidence in CVS&#8217;s future earnings and financial stability.
Price Action: According to data from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, CVS shares are trading higher by 1.9% to $67.62 Thursday afternoon. The stock has a 52-week high of $72.51 and a 52-week low of $43.56.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/46056665/unitedhealth-cvs-among-major-insurers-to-fast-track-prior-authorizations-will-it-cut-profits-even-more">UnitedHealth, CVS Among Major Insurers To Fast-Track Prior Authorizations: Will It Cut Profits Even More?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy CVS Stock</h2>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. 
For example, in CVS Health&#8217;s case, it is in the Health Care sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
Image: Shutterstock

CVS Health Stock Jumps As GOP Health Bill Stalls

WIIM

Shares of health insurers are trading higher as a Republican legislative package targeting tax and healthcare changes faces obstacles in the US Senate.

<a href="https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/landry-murrill-to-host-news-conference-will-announce-major-legal-action-against-cvs/#:~:text=In%20a%20statement%2C%20CVS%20said,law%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20statement%20read.">https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/landry-murrill-to-host-news-conference-will-announce-major-legal-action-against-cvs/#:~:text=In%20a%20statement%2C%20CVS%20said,law%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20statement%20read.</a>
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Legal

CVS Health Responds To Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill Lawsuits; Says "The Claims Are Without Merit And (We) Will Defend Ourselves Vigorously"; "Our Communication With CVS Customers, Patients And Members Of The Community Was Consistent With The Law"

<a href="https://x.com/AGLizMurrill/status/1937585255646642652" title="https://x.com/AGLizMurrill/status/1937585255646642652">https://x.com/AGLizMurrill/status/1937585255646642652</a>

Attorney General Liz Murrill Posts On X "Today, I've filed 3 separate lawsuits against CVS for unfair, deceptive, and unlawful practices that have harmed Louisiana patients, independent pharmacies, and the public at large. The State is seeking both injunctive relief and restitution."

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/lawmakers-seek-to-close-va-loophole-that-funnels-billions-to-private-medicare-insurers-cfbe0b19">https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/lawmakers-seek-to-close-va-loophole-that-funnels-billions-to-private-medicare-insurers-cfbe0b19</a>

ELEV

'Lawmakers Seek to Close VA Loophole That Funnels Billions to Private Medicare Insurers'- WSJ

Leading health insurers announced on Monday that they have agreed to a set of measures aimed at connecting patients to care faster and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/insurance">reducing paperwork for providers</a>.
What To Know: According to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/23/prior-authorizations-us-insurers-to-change-approval-process.html">CNBC</a>, several major U.S. health insurers — including CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) and Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>) — will voluntarily speed up and simplify the prior authorization process, which often causes delays and frustrations for patients <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45845302/unitedhealth-eyes-retreat-from-latin-america-after-8-3-billion-loss">and healthcare providers. </a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46030182/circle-stock-rockets-540-cathie-wood-says-weve-just-begun?utm_source=articleShare">Circle Stock Rockets 540%: Cathie Wood Says &#8216;We&#8217;ve Just Begun&#8217;</a>
These changes, coordinated through the industry group AHIP, will apply to commercial insurance as well as some Medicare and Medicaid plans, potentially benefiting 257 million Americans.
Key steps include:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Setting a common standard for submitting electronic prior authorization requests by 2027.</li>
<li>By that time, at least 80% of electronic requests with all required documents will receive real-time responses.</li>
<li>Reducing the number of services that require prior authorization by 2026.</li>
<li>Streamlining processes to lessen the administrative burden on doctors and hospitals, many of whom still use paper forms.</li>
</ul>
Why It Matters: The insurers acknowledged that while these changes could increase patients' use of care, possibly affecting profits, they are necessary to improve the healthcare system.&nbsp;
Healthcare stocks are already underperforming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45997946/stock-market-strategy-investing-analysis-healthcare-stocks-united-health">the broader market</a> by the widest margin since 2008, as investors favor technology and AI companies.&nbsp;
The Healthcare Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) now trades at its lowest value relative to the S&amp;P 500 in over a decade — a 40% drop from 2015 levels.
History shows that such deep undervaluation in healthcare often leads to strong rebounds, as seen after similar slumps in 2001 and 2008. Major companies like UnitedHealth, Eli Lilly and Merck have all posted steep declines this year.
Despite recent struggles, analysts are optimistic: 59 out of 60 healthcare companies in XLV have 12-month price targets above current prices, with an average expected upside of 17%.&nbsp;
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45971345/sunrun-first-solar-plunge-solar-stocks-hit-hard-by-trump-tax-bill-latest?utm_source=articleShare">&nbsp;</a>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45971345/sunrun-first-solar-plunge-solar-stocks-hit-hard-by-trump-tax-bill-latest?utm_source=articleShare">Sunrun, First Solar Plunge—Solar Stocks Hit Hard By Trump Tax Bill: Latest</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

UnitedHealth, CVS Among Major Insurers To Fast-Track Prior Authorizations: Will It Cut Profits Even More?

CVS Health Unit Aetna Unveils New Strategy To Cut Red Tape in Healthcare With Bundled Authorizations And On-Site Nurse Support

Donald Trump Jr. has joined billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban in publicly voicing disapproval of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)&#8217;s approach to healthcare pricing.
Despite their political differences, Trump Jr. and Cuban found a common point of contention in Warren&#8217;s healthcare pricing strategy. They criticized the senator for not addressing&nbsp;the role of pharmacy benefit&nbsp;managers (PBMs) in escalating drug costs.
Warren had previously argued&nbsp;that the tax system was&nbsp;&#8220;rigged&#8221;&nbsp;because large pharmaceutical companies like&nbsp;Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) often escape federal taxes while charging exorbitant prices for their drugs. 
She wrote on X saying that the "highest drug prices in the WORLD while often paying ZERO dollars in federal taxes themselves."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Big Pharma companies like Johnson &amp; Johnson and Pfizer charge Americans the highest drug prices in the WORLD while often paying ZERO dollars in federal taxes themselves. Why? Because our tax system is rigged. Now, Republicans want to make it worse. I&#39;m fighting back. <a href="https://t.co/k7dFrXBneX">pic.twitter.com/k7dFrXBneX</a>
&mdash; Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/1935443373487440373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Cuban countered this by stating that PBMs, not pharmaceutical companies, are the ones controlling and manipulating drug pricing.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43245984/cuban-on-musk-i-have-no-problem-throwing-elon-under-the-bus-but-ill-save-it-for-when-its-truly-deser">Cuban on Musk: &#8216;I Have No Problem Throwing Elon Under the Bus, but I&#8217;ll Save It for When It&#8217;s Truly Deserved&#8217;</a>
Trump Jr. publicly supported Cuban&#8217;s viewpoint on X, despite Cuban&#8217;s well-known opposition to President Trump. This unexpected agreement highlights the growing concern over the role of PBMs in healthcare pricing.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Didn't think I'd be RTing Mark for a while, but he's 100% right on this issue. <a href="https://t.co/ofraK5IFQk">https://t.co/ofraK5IFQk</a>
&mdash; Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1935817600891601345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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PBMs have been facing increasing scrutiny from federal regulators and lawmakers due to their influence on healthcare pricing. 
In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission released a report criticizing PBMs for imposing unfair terms on independent pharmacies, thereby favoring large corporate pharmacies like&nbsp;CVS&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>).
The public criticism from Trump Jr. and Cuban underscores the growing debate over the role of PBMs in healthcare pricing. 
Warren&#8217;s focus on pharmaceutical companies, while not entirely misplaced, overlooks the significant influence of PBMs in determining drug prices.
The Federal Trade Commission&#8217;s report from last year further highlights the need for regulatory scrutiny of PBMs. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how lawmakers will address the issue of healthcare pricing and the role of PBMs in the future.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45829489/mark-cuban-reacts-to-elon-musk-donald-trump-feud">Mark Cuban Reacts to Elon Musk-Donald Trump Feud</a>
Image: Shutterstock/lev radin

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Donald Trump Jr. Joins Mark Cuban In Slamming Elizabeth Warren on Healthcare Pricing

We have discussed why I favor real estate and Real Estate Investment Trusts. Since 1972, REITs have outperformed the major indexes. According to CEM Benchmarking, publicly traded real estate has outperformed every asset class except private equity since 1998. REITs have an excellent track record of paying and growing dividends.
Most people would rather chase stories than be the landlord and lender. I know far more wealthy lenders and landlords than I do rich dreamers.
Right now, most investors either hate real estate or simply do not think about it. The instant experts of the internet are convinced that real estate is heading to zero and will crash the banking system. They believe only bitcoin and AI stocks are worth buying. That is not going to happen.
Make your own call on bitcoin and AI. But consider this: who needs real estate?
Bitcoin and AI companies and their employees do. They need office space. They live somewhere. They shop at stores, pharmacies, and frequent gas stations and convenience stores. They visit doctors and labs. They travel to conferences usually held in hotels.
Those that actually manufacture products will eventually need warehouse and logistics space. Bitcoin miners need physical locations to house all those computers.
The majority of high-tech startups are going nowhere, but the people involved will still interact with real estate and make landlords wealthy regardless of how their ventures turn out.
I am not the only one who likes real estate at current prices.
&nbsp;I am seeing insiders who run these REITs (people who know the market better than anyone) begin making open market purchases of their own stocks.
John Rakolta Jr. is Chairman of Walbridge, one of the largest privately owned construction companies in the United States. Walbridge is a top U.S. builder of automotive and manufacturing facilities and has achieved considerable market diversity through expansion into the hyperscale data center market. He is also a Director of Agree Realty and has been aggressively buying shares in the open market recently.
While the instant experts of the internet scream &#8220;retail apocalypse&#8221; and predict the death of brick-and-mortar stores, Agree Realty (Ticker: ADC) has not only survived but thrived by completely rewriting the playbook. Agree Realty represents everything I look for in a long-term holding: contrarian thinking, exceptional management, fortress-like financials, and a business model that generates predictable cash flows in an unpredictable world.
In 2010, while everyone was fleeing retail real estate like it was radioactive, Agree Realty management team made a prescient decision that would define the company future. They launched their acquisition platform with a laser focus on &#8220;e-commerce resistance,&#8221; a concept largely ignored by the investment community at the time.
Consider that timing. This was just two years after the financial crisis, with Amazon retail dominance becoming increasingly apparent and traditional retailers closing stores left and right. Most investors and REITs were fleeing the sector. But Joey Agree and his team saw something different. They understood that certain types of retail were not going to disappear. They were going to evolve and become more essential than ever.
This was not just lucky timing. It marked the beginning of what would become one of the most successful strategic repositioning stories in REIT history.
Agree management articulated something Wall Street was missing: the emergence of the omni-channel economy. As Joey Agree explained in 2016, &#8220;Every retailer in the country is going to have to have billions of dollars, national retailers, to experiment, to test and eventually effectuate a true omni-channel experience because you cannot be an e-commerce-based retailer or just a brick-and-mortar-based retailer today. It does not work.&#8221;
This was not corporate speak. It was a fundamental insight that would prove prophetic. While others saw physical stores as dinosaurs, Agree saw them as critical infrastructure for the new retail economy. Stores were not just selling locations anymore; they were fulfillment centers, pickup points, showrooms, and customer experience hubs all rolled into one.
The company &#8220;RETHINK RETAIL&#8221; campaign was not marketing fluff. It was a declaration of war against conventional wisdom.
Let me walk you through some of Agree greatest hits, because this is where the company investment acumen really shines:
Tractor Supply Company (Ticker: TSCO) &#8211; Agree first acquired a Tractor Supply location in Q3 2013 when the company was still relatively unknown outside rural markets. Management saw something special: a retailer with no national competition serving the growing rural lifestyle market with products that could not easily be replicated online.
By Q2 2016, management was saying: &#8220;While neither Tractor Supply Company nor Hobby Lobby maintains a public credit rating, both possess investment-grade quality financials with very strong balance sheets.&#8221; They were ahead of the rating agencies by years.
By Q3 2018, their conviction was proven right: &#8220;We have a fantastic relationship with their real estate team. The business is really thriving. They have no national competition. They also have the highest-rated e-commerce website of any retailer.&#8221;
Today, after acquiring over 115 locations since 2013, Tractor Supply is Agree second-largest tenant at 4.9% of base rent. More importantly, TSCO was upgraded to investment grade (BBB by S&amp;P and Baa1 by Moody) in October 2020, validating Agree early assessment of the company credit quality.
Gerber Collision In 2014, Agree identified and met with The Boyd Group, parent company of Gerber Collision, recognizing early that this was a company positioned to consolidate a highly fragmented auto collision repair market. Their first acquisition came in Q3 2017.
By Q1 2018, management was already calling Gerber &#8220;the premier auto collision operator in the United States&#8221; and committed to working with them across all three growth platforms. By Q1 2022, they were describing their strategy as &#8220;identifying early on a retailer that we thought was in a tremendous position to access a fragmented space and had the balance sheet capabilities to do so.&#8221;
The result? Agree built a preferred development relationship with Gerber, developing over 20 locations to support their organic growth. Today, Gerber Collision is their 12th largest tenant with over 95 locations representing 2.3% of base rent.
Sunbelt Rentals First acquired in Q4 2015, Sunbelt Rentals represented Agree&#8217;s bet on the shift from equipment ownership to rental in the construction industry. As management explained in Q4 2019: &#8220;the only investment-grade operator in the country. If you look at the equipment ownership versus rental in this country&#8230; it is very, very low relative to Western Europe. And so, there&#8217;s a big opportunity in this country for equipment rental rather than ownership.&#8221;
The parent company, Ashtead Group, achieved investment grade ratings (BBB- by S&amp;P in August 2018, Baa3 by Moody), and by Q1 2022, management noted that &#8220;Our decision to invest in Sunbelt Rentals was recently reinforced by their upgraded BBB rating by Fitch.&#8221;
Sunbelt is now Agree 13th largest tenant with over 55 locations, representing 2.3% of base rent.
TJX Companies (Ticker: TJX) Agree relationship with TJX (parent of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) dates back to 2012 when they developed their first T.J. Maxx. The company recognized early that off-price retailers had a sustainable competitive advantage in their treasure-hunt shopping experience and deep vendor relationships.
The insight proved prescient. As management noted in Q2 2017: &#8220;At the same time, in terms of women&#8217;s apparel, you look at T.J. Maxx&#8230;the off-price retailers have thrived.&#8221; By Q4 2017, they were saying: &#8220;the TJX Companies&#8230;is now our #5 tenant. We have a strong bias towards off-price retail and the experience and value proposition that it provides for consumers.&#8221;
Today, TJX is their 6th largest tenant at 3.1% of base rent, and the company continues to expand aggressively. Since 2012, Agree has acquired or developed over 55 TJX locations.
Let me give you a comprehensive look at Agree top tenants, because this portfolio tells the story of a company that has systematically assembled the cream of American retail:
Top 15 Tenants by Annualized Base Rent:
<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Walmart (Ticker: WMT) (5.9%, $38.5M ABR) &#8211; The undisputed king of retail, with the most advanced omni-channel operation in the world. Investment grade (AA from multiple agencies).</li>
<li>Tractor Supply (Ticker: TSCO) (4.9%, $31.8M ABR) &#8211; Dominant rural lifestyle retailer with no national competition. Upgraded to investment grade in 2020 (BBB/Baa1).</li>
<li>Dollar General (Ticker: DG) (4.4%, $28.4M ABR) &#8211; Leading small-box discount retailer serving rural and urban markets where traditional retailers can&#8217;t compete economically. Investment grade (BBB/Baa2).</li>
<li>Best Buy (Ticker: BBY) (3.3%, $21.7M ABR) &#8211; The last major electronics retailer standing, with a successful omni-channel model and services business. Investment grade (BBB/Baa1).</li>
<li>Kroger (Ticker: KR) (3.2%, $20.5M ABR) &#8211; One of America&#8217;s largest supermarket chains with advanced digital capabilities and strong market positions. Investment grade (BBB-/Baa1).</li>
<li>TJX Companies (Ticker: TJX) (3.1%, $20.0M ABR) &#8211; Off-price retail leader with T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods. Investment grade (A-/A2).</li>
<li>CVS Pharmacy(Ticker: CVS) (3.1%, $19.9M ABR) &#8211; Healthcare-focused pharmacy chain with integrated health services. Investment grade (BBB/Baa2).</li>
<li>Dollar Tree (Ticker: DLTR) (2.8%, $18.3M ABR) &#8211; Fixed-price point retailer with defensive characteristics. Investment grade (BB+/Ba1 &#8211; sub-investment grade but improving).</li>
<li>O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts (Ticker: ORLY) (2.8%, $18.3M ABR) &#8211; Leading automotive aftermarket parts retailer with strong same-store sales growth and e-commerce resistance. Investment grade (BBB+/Baa1).</li>
<li>Hobby Lobby (2.8%, $18.2M ABR) &#8211; Dominant craft retailer with no direct national competition and products difficult to replicate online. Privately held but with investment-grade quality financials.</li>
<li>Lowe&#8217;s (Ticker: LOW) (2.8%, $17.9M ABR) &#8211; Second-largest home improvement retailer with strong omni-channel capabilities. Investment grade (BBB/Baa2).</li>
<li>Gerber Collision (2.3%, $15.2M ABR) &#8211; Leading auto collision repair chain owned by Boyd Group. Investment grade parent (BBB-/Baa3).</li>
<li>Sunbelt Rentals (2.3%, $15.0M ABR) &#8211; Equipment rental leader owned by Ashtead Group. Investment grade parent (BBB/Baa3).</li>
<li>7-Eleven (2.2%, $14.2M ABR) &#8211; Convenience store leader with defensive location characteristics. Investment grade parent.</li>
<li>Burlington (Ticker: BURL) (2.2%, $14.0M ABR) &#8211; Off-price apparel retailer with strong growth trajectory. Sub-investment grade but improving credit profile.</li>
</ol>
What strikes me about this list is the intentionality behind every single tenant. These are not random retail relationships. They are carefully curated partnerships with companies that have either achieved market dominance, possess unique competitive advantages, or operate in sectors with natural barriers to e-commerce disruption.
Perhaps most impressive is the credit quality: 68.3% of Agree base rent comes from investment-grade tenants. This is not an accident. It is the result of a deliberate strategy to partner with retailers that have strong balance sheets and sustainable business models.
The tenant mix also reveals smart sector allocation:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Grocery Stores (10.1%): Essential, frequent-visit retailers with omni-channel capabilities</li>
<li>Home Improvement (9.1%): Large-ticket items requiring customer inspection and immediate fulfillment</li>
<li>Convenience Stores (7.8%): Location-dependent businesses with defensive characteristics</li>
<li>Tire &amp; Auto Service (7.8%): Services that require physical presence and specialized equipment</li>
<li>Dollar Stores (7.0%): Serving markets too small for traditional competitors</li>
</ul>
I want to spend a moment on Walmart specifically, because at 5.9% of base rent, they are Agree largest tenant, and this relationship exemplifies everything the company does right.
Walmart is not just surviving the retail apocalypse. They are winning it. The company has built the most sophisticated omni-channel operation in retail, with stores serving as fulfillment centers, pickup locations, and last-mile delivery hubs. Their e-commerce growth has been explosive, but rather than cannibalizing store sales, it is making their physical locations more valuable than ever.
For Agree, Walmart represents the perfect tenant: investment grade credit (AA rating), growing business model, and a real estate strategy that aligns perfectly with the omni-channel future. These are not legacy stores that might become obsolete. They are critical infrastructure for Walmart continued growth.
While the tenant quality is impressive, what really captures my attention is Agree&#8217;s balance sheet. This is what a fortress looks like:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Investment grade ratings: Baa1 from Moody&#8217;s, BBB+ from S&amp;P</li>
<li>Net debt to recurring EBITDA: 4.9x actual, 3.4x proforma (including forward equity)</li>
<li>Fixed charge coverage ratio: 4.3x</li>
<li>No material debt maturities until 2028</li>
<li>Total liquidity: approximately $2.6 billion</li>
<li>Outstanding forward equity: over $1.3 billion</li>
<li>Revolver capacity: $1.2 billion</li>
</ul>
This gives them tremendous flexibility to take advantage of market dislocations.
With their fortress balance sheet and $2.6 billion in liquidity, Agree is positioned for accelerated growth. Management recently raised their 2025 investment guidance to $1.3-$1.5 billion (up from $1.1-$1.3 billion), reflecting confidence in their ability to find attractive opportunities.
The investment pipeline is enormous: management estimates over 169,000 net lease opportunities across their target sectors, with $92+ billion in opportunities reviewed since 2018. They have been highly selective, investing only $8.0 billion over that period, demonstrating disciplined capital allocation.
In a world where dividend cuts have become commonplace, Agree has paid 159 consecutive monthly dividends with an average AFFO payout ratio of just 75% over the past ten years. The dividend has grown at approximately 6% annually over the past decade, reaching $2.99 per share in 2024.
This is not a yield play built on an unsustainable payout ratio. It is a genuine dividend growth story backed by growing cash flows and conservative financial management.
Here is what I find most compelling about Agree Realty: they have built a dominant position in a sector that most investors still view with skepticism. This creates a sustained competitive advantage. While others avoid retail real estate, Agree gets first look at the best opportunities.
The &#8220;retail apocalypse&#8221; narrative has created a two-tiered market where strong retailers with good real estate get phenomenal terms, while struggling concepts cannot secure financing at any price. Agree benefits from both sides of this dynamic: they get attractive pricing on quality assets while weak competitors are eliminated from their markets.
In a market obsessed with the next shiny object, Agree Realty has quietly built one of the highest-quality REIT portfolios in the market by betting on American retail evolution rather than its demise. They have assembled a collection of retailers that are not just surviving the omni-channel transition. They are thriving because of it.
While others were running from retail real estate, Agree was building relationships with the winners. While others were chasing yield at any cost, Agree was building a sustainable dividend growth engine. While others were leveraging up in good times, Agree was building a fortress balance sheet for all seasons.
This is the kind of contrarian, quality-focused investment that can anchor a portfolio for decades. In a world of uncertainty, Agree Realty offers something increasingly rare: predictable, growing cash flows backed by essential real estate infrastructure and managed by a team with a &#x2A;proven track record of outstanding capital allocation.
Sometimes the best investments are hiding in plain sight, dismissed by the crowd but quietly compounding wealth for those patient enough to see past the headlines.
The insiders in real estate see the opportunity.
You should as well.

Opinion

BURL

DLTR

ORLY

TSCO

Alpha Buying: How This Company Quietly Took Over American Storefronts

A heated debate over the U.S. healthcare system erupted on X, pitting billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) over the root causes of soaring drug prices.
What Happened: The clash, unfolding as of Friday, has reignited discussions on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and Big Pharma's tax practices, with the Senate poised to address reform amid rising public scrutiny.
Enter Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, who fired back with a pointed correction.
In a post quoting Warren, Cuban argued that PBMs—not Big Pharma—are the true culprits behind inflated drug prices.
&#8220;PBMs corrupt healthcare,&#8221; he wrote, explaining that these intermediaries control formularies and manipulate prices to maximize rebate revenue, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45487788/trumps-drug-price-order-hits-pbms-hardest-cvs-cigna-unh-in-focus-as-experts-highlight-racket-and-pricing-distortion">three major PBMs</a> negotiating over 90% of rebates for commercial insurance plans. 
Warren, in her post, had blamed pharmaceutical giants like Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) for charging Americans the &#8220;highest drug prices in the world&#8221; while paying &#8220;zero dollars in federal taxes.&#8221;
Citing data from her Senate Finance Committee role, Warren highlighted how these companies, alongside AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), and Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), have exploited tax loopholes from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to shield billions in profits.
&#8220;Republicans want to make it worse. I&#8217;m fighting back,&#8221; she declared, sharing <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/17/pfizer-merck-jj-others-face-scrutiny-over-tax-loophole-extension.html">a</a> CNBC headline and urging action against what she calls a &#8220;rigged tax system.&#8221; 
<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">No. It&#39;s because PBMs corrupt healthcare. Big Pharma wishes they could set their own pricing. They don&#39;t. PBMs control formularies and manipulate prices, in exchange for providing pharma access to patients. It&#39;s how they maximize rebate revenue. In fact, 3 PBMs NEGOTIATE… <a href="https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM">https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1935705831930298562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46013679/dan-ives-says-market-is-massively-underestimating-this-ai-play-urges-investors-to-look-beyong-mag-7">Dan Ives Says Market Is ‘Massively Underestimating' This AI Play, Urges Investors To Look Beyond Mag 7</a>
Why It Matters: Cuban has been a c<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">ritic of the healthcare system</a>, saying that it should be simple. According to him, it&#8217;s become overly complicated by big insurance companies and PBMs.
These groups, he says, act as middlemen, controlling not just the costs but also the accessibility of care.
He blames PBMs for lack of transparency, inflated specialty drug prices, rebate distortion, formulary restrictions, and &#8220;Sh–ing on&#8221; on independent pharmacies.
Some significant firms engaged in the PBM business listed in the U.S. include;
<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>51.15%</td>
<td>9.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cigna Group. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>)</td>
<td>14.54%</td>
<td>-6.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td>
<td>-39.11%</td>
<td>-36.60%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Meanwhile, here is how some pharmaceutical sector ETFs have performed;
<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>1.69%</td>
<td>-4.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.49%</td>
<td>-1.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-3.23%</td>
<td>-1.64%</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>-4.06%</td>
<td>2.61%</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>20.55%</td>
<td>22.94%</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>-5.44%</td>
<td>-6.27%</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>-23.49%</td>
<td>-14.63%</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, were mixed in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.30% at $595.67, while the QQQ was 0.015% higher at $529.07, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46016347/this-stock-just-popped-30-in-5-days-now-expert-says-it-looks-potentially-explosive">This Stock Just Popped 30% In 5 Days — Now Expert Says It ‘Looks Potentially Explosive'</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Insurance

ABBV

AMGN

FTXH

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

KURE

PILL

Merrill Lynch Pharmaceutical HOLDRs Trust

Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare'

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/senate-republicans-to-omit-medicare-advantage-cuts-in-tax-bill?embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/senate-republicans-to-omit-medicare-advantage-cuts-in-tax-bill?embedded-checkout=true</a>

EHTH

GOCO

'Senate Republicans to Omit Medicare Advantage Cuts in Tax Bill'- Bloomberg

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-05/medicare-surfaces-as-target-for-cuts-to-pay-for-trump-tax-bill?srnd=phx-politics">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-05/medicare-surfaces-as-target-for-cuts-to-pay-for-trump-tax-bill?srnd=phx-politics</a>

'Medicare Surfaces as Target for Cuts to Pay for Trump Tax Bill'- Bloomberg

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-05/medicare-surfaces-as-target-for-cuts-to-pay-for-trump-tax-bill?srnd=phx-politics&amp;embedded-checkout=true" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-05/medicare-surfaces-as-target-for-cuts-to-pay-for-trump-tax-bill?srnd=phx-politics&amp;embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-05/medicare-surfaces-as-target-for-cuts-to-pay-for-trump-tax-bill?srnd=phx-politics&amp;embedded-checkout=true</a>

'Medicare Surfaces as Target for Cuts to Pay for Trump Tax Bill' -Bloomberg

Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) signaled support for reforms that would curb industry billing practices that have led to billions <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in additional payments</a>.
What Happened: Last fall, Senators Mike Crapo and Ron Wyden asked insurers for ideas to address home-visit-related payment practices. 
Human, one of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers in the U.S., recently shared its stance. In a one-page policy overview viewed by The Wall Street Journal, the company favored limiting insurers&#8217; use of home visit diagnoses to obtain higher payments.
These home visits, often conducted by nurse practitioners and not directly linked to treatment, have become increasingly scrutinized for their role in boosting payments by identifying sometimes questionable or unverified medical conditions.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45775858/unitedhealth-board-reelects-directors-hikes-dividend-as-ceo-pledges-review-of-medicare-practices" rel="noreferrer noopener">UnitedHealth Board Reelects Directors, Hikes Dividend As CEO Pledges Review Of Medicare Practices</a>
Why It Matters: Humana&#8217;s position is a notable shift in the ongoing debate over payments tied to diagnosis coding in the $460 billion Medicare Advantage program.
A Wall Street Journal investigation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/medicare-billing-changes-humana-6f20c05b" rel="noreferrer noopener">revealed</a> that such home-based assessments generated $15 billion in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/04/45108509/humana-does-not-alter-2025-outlook-despite-sales-miss-and-medicare-membership-decline" rel="noreferrer noopener">additional revenue for Medicare</a> Advantage insurers between 2019 and 2021.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) accounted for roughly two-thirds of those payments, with an average gain of $2,735 per home visit. Humana&#8217;s average was $1,525.
UnitedHealth&#8217;s HouseCalls program conducted around 2.9 million home visits last year, while CVS Health Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), through Signify Health, also operates a similar model.
Insurers argue that many of these home visits help detect undiagnosed conditions. However, reports indicate that diagnoses are frequently recorded by nurses who aren&#8217;t treating the conditions and may rely on broad training to spot potential health issues.
These diagnoses often don&#8217;t align with those documented by the patients&#8217; primary care physicians.
Humana has proposed that insurers should only receive extra payments for diagnoses made during home visits if those conditions are documented during other types of medical encounters, such as health-risk assessments outside the home or standard clinic visits.
The company also recommends limiting another controversial practice: diagnosis coding from medical chart reviews unrelated to specific patient visits. Humana&#8217;s policy update comes after an internal review launched by CEO Jim Rechtin, who took the helm in July 2023.
Meanwhile, Medicare&#8217;s top official, Mehmet Oz, has committed to tightening oversight of the Advantage program.
Legal Issues: In May, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/04/44927473/despite-medicaid-pressure-elevance-health-delivers-strong-q1-performance-reiterates-profit-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elevance Health, Inc.</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), Humana, and Aetna, Inc. 
The lawsuit alleges that from 2016 through at least 2021, the insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to brokers in exchange for enrolling Medicare beneficiaries into their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45202124/humana-elevance-aetna-face-doj-lawsuit-over-illegal-kickback-scheme-discrimination-against-disabled-people" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medicare Advantage plans</a>.
And in February, the Justice Department launched a civil fraud investigation into UnitedHealth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43879859/doj-investigates-unitedhealth-probe-accuses-of-inflating-medicare-diagnoses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medicare billing practices</a>.
The probe examines UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage plans and physician groups following reports that the company received billions in federal payments for questionable diagnoses.
Price Action: HUM stock is up 0.29% at $231.88 at the last check on Thursday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Humana Backs Reforms To Limit Medicare Advantage Billing Practices

Nearly 80% of S&amp;P 500 companies exceeded earnings forecasts in the first quarter of 2025, helping the index post a 13.3% profit surge — its second straight quarter <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">of double-digit growth.</a>
According to the latest Earnings Insight report from FactSet, authored by vice president and senior earnings analyst John Butters, only 18% fell short of analyst forecasts.
About 98% of S&amp;P 500 companies now have reported first-quarter results. And up to 78% beat earnings-per-share (EPS) expectations—a figure that outpaces both the 5-year average of 77% and the 10-year average of 75%. 
&#8220;In aggregate, companies are reporting earnings that are 8.2% above expectations. This surprise percentage is above the 1-year average (+6.1%), below the 5-year average (+8.8%), and above the 10-year average (+6.9%),&#8221; Butters wrote. 
The "Magnificent Seven" — Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), and Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) — outperformed the broader index.
Six of the seven companies beat EPS estimates (86%), with an average earnings surprise of 14.9%, nearly twice the S&amp;P 500 average.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45517783/magnificent-7-stun-the-street-with-the-best-earnings-beat-since-2021">Magnificent 7 Stun The Street With Best Earnings Beat Since 2021</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Which Sectors Led The Upside?</h3>
Health Care topped the leaderboard with 92% of its constituents beating estimates, followed by Communication Services (87%) and Information Technology (86%). 
At the opposite end, Utilities and Energy sectors posted the weakest beat rates at 61% and 64%, respectively.
Communication Services delivered the strongest upside surprises, boasting an average earnings surprise of +23.8%. 
Meta Platforms Inc. beat by over $1 per share ($6.43 vs. $5.23), while Alphabet Inc. posted EPS of $2.81 against estimates of $2.02. 
Other strong performers included Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>), Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPG#NYSE">IPG</a>), News Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWSA#NASDAQ">NWSA</a>), and Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>).
Consumer Discretionary followed with a 9.4% surprise rate. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>) surged past expectations with $24.81 in EPS vs. $17.37 forecast, while NIKE Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) posted $0.54 vs. $0.30.
Health Care delivered an 8.6% surprise, with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) earning $0.92 per share vs. $0.67 estimate, and CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) reporting $2.25 vs. $1.70. The sector also had the highest beat rate, with 92% of companies exceeding EPS forecasts.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Response: Positive Earnings Are Paying Off</h3>
Investors rewarded strong results. Companies that beat expectations saw their stock prices rise by an average of 1.9% from two days before to two days after earnings — the highest average gain since the third quarter of 2022. 
Conversely, companies that missed expectations saw a more muted decline of -1.9%, smaller than the 5-year average drop of -2.3%.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Valuations Are Getting Stretched</h3>
The forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for the S&amp;P 500 rose to 21.3, above the 5-year average of 19.9 and the 10-year average of 18.4. 
That increase reflects a 5.4% rise in the index since March 31, while forward EPS estimates have slipped less than 0.1%.
By sector, Consumer Discretionary (28.1) and Information Technology (27.2) have the richest valuations, while Energy (14.6) trades at the lowest. 
The trailing 12-month P/E ratio also moved higher to 25.9, above the historical 5- and 10-year norms.
Now Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/06/45722678/magnificent-seven-closed-a-blockbuster-may-added-nearly-2-trillion-in-market-value">Magnificent Seven Closed A Blockbuster May, Added Nearly $2 Trillion In Market Value</a><span class="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246/0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ;"></li>
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S&P 500 Q1 Earnings Stun Wall Street Again With Broad-Based Beats, Double-Digit Growth

Amazon Pharmacy has announced two updates to make medication management easier and more accessible for millions of customers across the U.S., especially caregivers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">and Medicare patients</a>.
The enhancements include a new caregiver feature and expanded access to its PillPack service for Medicare beneficiaries.
The caregiver support <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-pharmacy-caregiver-medicare-pillpack" rel="noreferrer noopener">feature</a> allows Amazon Pharmacy customers to invite trusted individuals to manage medications on their behalf.
Once verified, caregivers can oversee prescriptions through their own Amazon accounts.
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According to AARP, this update addresses a growing need: One in five U.S. adults, or about 53 million people, cares for an aging family member. Many spend the equivalent of a full workday each month coordinating health care, with medication management being among the most complex tasks.
Setting up caregiver access is simple: A customer logs into their Amazon Pharmacy account and sends an invitation via mobile phone number. After verifying a few details, like the customer&#8217;s date of birth, the caregiver receives a secure link by text message and can begin managing prescriptions from their account.
In addition, Amazon Pharmacy has expanded access to its PillPack service for Medicare Part D members.
PillPack offers personalized medication packets organized by date and time, designed to simplify the daily routine of people taking multiple prescriptions.
This service is now available to over 50 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries, helping eliminate the burden of sorting pills and tracking refill schedules. Eligible customers can sign up through their Amazon Pharmacy account to enroll.
Customers will receive monthly pre-sorted packet shipments after reviewing their medications and insurance details. Amazon coordinates all refills so medications arrive together each month.
Amazon Pharmacy offers one-time prescriptions and ongoing medication needs through the Amazon app.
The platform provides delivery updates via text or email and offers Prime members in select cities—including New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle—free same-day delivery.
The pharmacy accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare Part D nationwide and Medicaid in select states.
Prime members benefit from additional savings through RxPass and other Prime-exclusive discounts, with potential savings of up to 80% on thousands of medications when paying without insurance.
PillPack services are free and include 24/7 access to pharmacists and monthly medication deliveries.
Amazon bought PillPack seven years ago for over $750 million, but it still hasn&#8217;t revealed how much money its Amazon Pharmacy business is making in its quarterly earnings.
According to Forbes, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2025/06/03/amazon-a-tiny-pharmacy-player-seeks-to-dent-cvs-and-walgreens-medicare-share/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> show that CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) owned Walgreens control about 40% of the U.S. prescription drug market combined, while Amazon holds less than 1%. CVS and Walgreens do not share how many Medicare Part D prescriptions they fill.
Now, Amazon Pharmacy is adding features aimed at seniors to break into the fast-growing Medicare market, as more than 11,000 Americans turn 65 daily.
Most recently, Talkspace (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TALK#NASDAQ">TALK</a>), an online behavioral health company, collaborated with Amazon Pharmacy to simplify the pharmacy experience for Talkspace members and streamline medication management and adherence support for providers.
Talkspace members can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250529796020/en/Talkspace-Becomes-First-Behavioral-Health-Provider-to-Integrate-with-Amazon-Pharmacy-Offering-Psychiatry-Services-and-a-More-Seamless-Medication-Management-Experience" rel="noreferrer noopener">fulfill</a> prescriptions from their Talkspace provider through Amazon Pharmacy.
Price Action: AMZN stock is up 0.49% at $207.67 at the last check on Tuesday.
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Photo by MACH Photos via Shutterstock

TALK

Amazon Pharmacy Challenges CVS Health And Walgreens Dominance, Unveils New Features To Expand Medicare Access

<a href="https://x.com/AnjKhem/status/1929915330773590434" title="https://x.com/AnjKhem/status/1929915330773590434">https://x.com/AnjKhem/status/1929915330773590434</a>

Yahoo Finance Senior Health Reporter Anjalee Khemlani Posts On X "EXCLUSIVE: CVS commits to $20B over 10 yrs to modernize healthcare experience. ..."

Ratings for CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) were provided by 10 analysts in the past three months, showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
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">6</td>
<td align="right">2</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">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M 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>
</tbody>
</table>
Insights from analysts' 12-month price targets are revealed, presenting an average target of $78.4, a high estimate of $84.00, and a low estimate of $71.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $72.30, the current average has increased by 8.44%.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1748887249_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</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>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$79.00</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Caliendo</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
</tr>
<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>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to CVS Health. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of CVS Health compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for CVS Health's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of CVS Health's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of 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>All You Need to Know 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: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: CVS Health's revenue growth over a period of 3M 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. When compared to others in the Health Care sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: CVS Health's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 1.88%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): CVS Health's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 2.33%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.7%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: With a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, CVS Health faces challenges in effectively managing its debt levels, indicating potential financial strain.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
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.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

What 10 Analyst Ratings Have To Say About CVS Health

Barclays analyst Andrew Mok maintains CVS Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $82 to $79.

Price Target

Barclays Maintains Overweight on CVS Health, Lowers Price Target to $79

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