WellPoint Inc (WLP): Today's Featured Health Services Laggard

WellPoint (WLP) pushed the Health Services industry lower today making it today's featured Health Services laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 1.2%. By the end of trading, WellPoint fell 76 cents (-1.2%) to $61.94 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.7 million shares of WellPoint exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.4 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $61.87-$62.92 after having opened the day at $62.39 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $62.70. Other company's within the Health Services industry that declined today were: Staar Surgical (STAA), down 25.7%, Tengion (TNGN), down 10.6%, Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), down 8.4%, and Advocat (AVCA), down 7%.

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WellPoint, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company offers various network-based managed care plans to large and small employer, individual, Medicaid, and senior markets. WellPoint has a market cap of $20.91 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.6, equal to the average health services industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 5.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate WellPoint a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and eight rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates WellPoint as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels, growth in earnings per share and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full WellPoint Ratings Report.

• Use our health services section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health services industry could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health services industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on WellPoint Inc click any of the following:

• WellPoint Inc Stock Price

• WellPoint Inc Analyst Ratings

• WellPoint Inc Key Stats & Profile

• WellPoint Inc Earnings

• WellPoint Inc Ratio Comparison

• WellPoint Inc Growth Rates

• WellPoint Inc Balance Sheet

• WellPoint Inc Cash Flow

• WellPoint Inc Income Statement