Anthem (NYSE:ANTM) had its target price upped by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $247.00 to $266.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday. The firm presently has an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 9.05% from the stock’s previous close.
Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. ValuEngine upgraded shares of Anthem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Sunday, December 31st. B. Riley restated a “buy” rating on shares of Anthem in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Anthem from $249.00 to $254.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. BidaskClub raised shares of Anthem from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $220.00 price objective on shares of Anthem in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Anthem has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $226.94.
Anthem (ANTM) traded down $3.92 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $243.93. 1,988,836 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,480,000. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 1.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $62,630.00, a PE ratio of 16.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.79. Anthem has a 1-year low of $154.37 and a 1-year high of $267.95.
Anthem declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, December 7th that allows the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.
In related news, EVP Gloria M. Mccarthy sold 14,429 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $229.68, for a total transaction of $3,314,052.72. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 30,667 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,043,596.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph Swedish sold 67,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.87, for a total transaction of $15,921,225.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 134,043 shares in the company, valued at $31,616,722.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 105,634 shares of company stock worth $24,682,425 over the last three months. 0.36% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Anthem by 0.5% during the second quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. now owns 1,070 shares of the company’s stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 5 shares in the last quarter. Gofen & Glossberg LLC IL lifted its position in shares of Anthem by 0.6% during the second quarter. Gofen & Glossberg LLC IL now owns 2,540 shares of the company’s stock valued at $478,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Sii Investments Inc. WI lifted its position in shares of Anthem by 5.4% during the second quarter. Sii Investments Inc. WI now owns 2,860 shares of the company’s stock valued at $537,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its position in shares of Anthem by 4.3% during the second quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 4,682 shares of the company’s stock valued at $881,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FineMark National Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Anthem by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 2,933 shares of the company’s stock valued at $660,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. 87.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Anthem Company Profile
Anthem, Inc is a health benefits company. The Company operates through three segments: Commercial and Specialty Business, Government Business and Other. It offers a spectrum of network-based managed care plans to large and small employer, individual, Medicaid and Medicare markets. Its managed care plans include preferred provider organizations; health maintenance organizations; point-of-service plans; indemnity plans and other hybrid plans, including consumer-driven health plans; and hospital only and limited benefit products.
