Heath insurer Aetna Inc (AET.N) raised its 2011 profit target after posting first-quarter results well above estimates on lower-than-expected medical costs, sending its shares up 8.5 percent. The results from the No. 3 U.S. health insurer, which also announced a $600 million deal for a third-party health plan administrator, come after rivals UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N) and WellPoint Inc (WLP.N) also boosted their full-year profit forecasts after strong quarters. But the higher 2011 forecast from Aetna particularly impressed analysts after the company had already set out what some investors perceived as an aggressive profit target. "While all peers are reporting strong beats, the investment controversy on Aetna is particularly strong given the company had already guided significantly higher than its peers," Sanford Bernstein analyst Ana Gupte said in a research note.
Aetna Inc. (Aetna) is a diversified health care benefits company, serving approximately 35. Shares of AET remained unchanged at $39.81. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $25.00 and as high as $39.74. On average, 3853880 shares of AET exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 262060.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a diversified health and well-being company. Shares of UNH remained unchanged at $48.21. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $27.13 and as high as $48.90. On average, 6205730 shares of UNH exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1425.
WellPoint, Inc. (WellPoint) is a health benefits company in terms of medical membership in the United States. Shares of WLP remained unchanged at $75.54. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $46.52 and as high as $73.39. On average, 3006410 shares of WLP exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 0.
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