Elevance Health is rated a Buy with a $400 price target, reflecting 18% upside and potential market outperformance. ELV trades at a significant discount to peers, with an 11x earnings multiple and strong double-digit top-line growth despite sector headwinds. Recent FQ3 2025 results showed a double-beat, with revenue up 12% year-over-year and EPS surpassing analyst estimates, signaling a turnaround.
Merck offers strong dividend growth, a robust drug pipeline, and strategic acquisitions, positioning it well beyond Keytruda's patent expiration. MRK's 3.9% dividend yield, low payout ratio, and A+ credit rating support its 14-year dividend growth streak and future income potential. Elevance Health faces near-term headwinds but boasts a large consumer base, efficiency initiatives, and a 13-year dividend growth record.
Elevance Health reaffirmed its long-term goal of targeting at least 12% average annual growth in adjusted diluted EPS. ELV trades at a forward P/E of 11.5, below UNH's at 22, suggesting undervaluation if growth continues from 2026. The key risk remains a health benefit ratio above 90%, which will be closely monitored in upcoming quarters.
Elevance Health reported Q3 results, beating consensus earnings estimates. However, the beat was due to one-off items. Key focus areas include Medical Cost Ratio stabilization, 2026 premium rate re-filings, updates on Medicare segment growth, and membership trends for ELV. The benefit expense ratio continues to be elevated; the outlook for 2026 is for further deterioration in Medicaid results; however, there was no detailed data on rate re-filings.
ELV beats EPS estimates by 21% in Q3 as strong Medicare Advantage membership gains and Carelon revenue growth offset Medicaid losses.
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV ) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 21, 2025 8:30 AM EDT Company Participants Nathan Rich - Vice President of Investor Relations Gail Boudreaux - President, CEO & Director Mark Kaye - Executive VP & CFO Felicia Norwood - Executive VP & President of Government Health Benefits Peter Haytaian - Executive VP and President of Carelon & CarelonRx Conference Call Participants Albert Rice - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Stephen Baxter - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division Lisa Gill - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Andrew Mok - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division Justin Lake - Wolfe Research, LLC Lance Wilkes - Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC.
Elevance Health expands beyond insurance into primary care, digital health and pharmacy services, aiming to reshape healthcare delivery.
ELV's focus on value-based care, Carelon integration and CareBridge acquisition drives membership and revenue growth.
Elevance and peers face earnings pressure from rising medical costs, driven by deferred care, expensive drugs, and persistent medical inflation. The segment has re-rated, and now offers good value. Investor sentiment has returned, and capital is rotating into healthcare.
Federal judge dismisses ELV's lawsuit challenging Medicare Advantage star ratings, leading to a $375M bonus loss tied to its star score.
ELV partners with NACHC to bring Food as Medicine into primary care, targeting nutritional insecurities and chronic disease.
ELV trims 2025 outlook as medical costs climb, but commercial growth and Carelon's momentum aim to steady performance.