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Fly News Breaks for July 9, 2018
ANTM, CNC, MOH
Jul 9, 2018 | 08:51 EDT
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed Saturday that it will at least temporarily suspend the healthcare exchange risk adjustment program. If true, the immediate effect is that this Fall Molina Healthcare (MOH) and Centene (CNC) would avoid paying hundreds of millions of accrued payments related to 2017, JPMorgan analyst Gary Taylor tells investors in a research note. He notes that Molina would avoid $912M in payments and Centene $677M, according to their annual filings. On the other side, Anthem (ANTM) would not collect an expected $400M-$500M receivable, Taylor adds, citing his estimate. The analyst believes the longer-term effect of suspension "would be possibly additional significant disruption/withdrawals/rate hikes in the individual market for 2018-19." 19. If permanently dismantled, Taylor estimates Molina could book a one-time $350M after-tax gain related to 2017, Centene no gain and Anthem a $320M after tax loss. In terms of recurring earnings power exposure to exchanges, the analyst believes only Molina could materially benefit.
News For MOH;CNC;ANTM From the Last 2 Days
MOH
Mar 28, 2024 | 06:51 EDT
BofA downgraded Molina Healthcare (MOH) to Underperform from Neutral with a $439 price target. The firm, which is concerned that Molina and the Medicaid industry more broadly are likely to face rate pressure after a period of elevated margins, sees a less attractive risk/reward for Molina compared to other insurers the firm covers, the analyst tells investors. Molina is now trading roughly at parity with the firm's top pick in the space, UnitedHealth (UNH), compared to a 22% discount that had been seen over the last five years, helping to underscore the firm's view that "sentiment for Medicaid is nearing a top just at a time when Medicare is reaching a bottom," the analyst added.