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

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

WellPoint (WLP) pushed the Health Services industry higher today making it today's featured health services winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.2%. By the end of trading, WellPoint rose 65 cents (1.1%) to $62.23 on light volume. Throughout the day, 2.1 million shares of WellPoint exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.3 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $62.04-$62.70 after having opened the day at $62.13 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $61.58. Other companies within the Health Services industry that increased today were: Electromed (ELMD), up 7.4%, Hill-Rom Holdings (HRC), up 6.2%, Dehaier Medical Systems (DHRM), up 5.1%, and Edap TMS (EDAP), up 5%.

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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 $20.12 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.4, 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 6.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are nine analysts that rate WellPoint a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and nine 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 and growth in earnings per share. 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.

On the negative front, Spherix (SPEX), down 14.1%, Thermogenesis Corporation (KOOL), down 11.1%, NeuroMetrix (NUROD), down 7.3%, and Sunshine Heart (SSH), down 6%, were all laggards within the health services industry with Align Technology (ALGN) being today's health services industry laggard.

• 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.

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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