Zacks Research Lowers Earnings Estimates for Elevance Health

Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) – Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Elevance Health in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, January 30th. Zacks Research analyst K. Dey now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $10.40 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $10.76. The consensus estimate for Elevance Health’s current full-year earnings is $32.95 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Elevance Health’s Q3 2025 earnings at $8.59 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $49.16 EPS.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The company reported $3.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.80 by $0.04. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 19.56% and a net margin of 3.68%.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Stephens lowered Elevance Health from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $520.00 to $440.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Elevance Health from $643.00 to $551.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Raymond James set a $485.00 price target on Elevance Health in a report on Friday, October 18th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $585.00 to $505.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Elevance Health from $520.00 to $480.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $517.03.

Elevance Health Price Performance

Shares of ELV opened at $399.36 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $386.71 and a 200-day moving average of $459.16. Elevance Health has a 1 year low of $362.21 and a 1 year high of $567.26. The company has a market capitalization of $92.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.50.

Elevance Health Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a dividend of $1.71 per share. This is a positive change from Elevance Health’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.71%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Elevance Health’s payout ratio is 23.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elevance Health

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ELV. Keystone Financial Services grew its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Keystone Financial Services now owns 1,436 shares of the company’s stock worth $530,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Elevance Health by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 1,383 shares of the company’s stock worth $510,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Palouse Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Elevance Health in the 4th quarter worth $1,501,000. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in Elevance Health by 103.9% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,688 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,050,000 after acquiring an additional 1,370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Elevance Health during the fourth quarter valued at about $21,232,000. Institutional investors own 89.24% of the company’s stock.

About Elevance Health

Elevance Health, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Health Benefits, CarelonRx, Carelon Services, and Corporate & Other. It offers a variety of health plans and services to program members; health products; an array of fee-based administrative managed care services; and specialty and other insurance products and services, such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental health insurance benefits.