The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) Updates FY25 Earnings Guidance

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) issued an update on its FY25 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $29.50 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $29.75.

The Cigna Group Price Performance

Shares of The Cigna Group stock traded up $0.22 on Thursday, hitting $311.27. The company had a trading volume of 705,066 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,844,211. The Cigna Group has a 52 week low of $262.03 and a 52 week high of $370.83. The company has a market cap of $85.19 billion, a PE ratio of 25.40, a PEG ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.53. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $295.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $317.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.72.

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The health services provider reported $6.64 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.84 by ($1.20). The Cigna Group had a net margin of 1.39% and a return on equity of 18.61%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.79 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that The Cigna Group will post 29.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The Cigna Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be given a $1.51 dividend. This is an increase from The Cigna Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 5th. The Cigna Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of The Cigna Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their target price on The Cigna Group from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Royal Bank of Canada set a $355.00 price target on The Cigna Group in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of The Cigna Group from $370.00 to $341.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Stephens cut their price target on The Cigna Group from $410.00 to $380.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $372.31.

Insider Buying and Selling at The Cigna Group

In related news, CEO David Cordani sold 26,527 shares of The Cigna Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $308.12, for a total transaction of $8,173,499.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 127,767 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $39,367,568.04. This trade represents a 17.19 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Noelle K. Eder sold 9,944 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total transaction of $3,182,080.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,406 shares in the company, valued at $4,289,920. This represents a 42.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 41,375 shares of company stock valued at $12,866,600. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Cigna Group

An institutional investor recently raised its position in The Cigna Group stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) by 9.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,736 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 318 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC’s holdings in The Cigna Group were worth $1,032,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. 86.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

The Cigna Group Company Profile

The Cigna Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and related products and services in the United States. Its Evernorth Health Services segment provides a range of coordinated and point solution health services, including pharmacy benefits, home delivery pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, distribution, and care delivery and management solutions to health plans, employers, government organizations, and health care providers.