WellPoint Inc (WLP): Today's Featured Health Care Laggard
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
.
(
) pushed the Health Care sector lower today making it today's featured Health Care laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, WellPoint fell 69 cents (-1.2%) to $55.37 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.8 million shares of WellPoint exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.3 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $54.79-$55.68 after having opened the day at $55.68 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $56.06. Other companies within the Health Care sector that declined today were:
(
), down 13.2%,
(
), down 11.1%,
IntelliPharmaCeutics International
(
), down 8.3%, and
(
), down 8.3%.
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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 $16.87 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 7.3, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 16.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are eight analysts that rate WellPoint a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates WellPoint as a
. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.
- You can view the full WellPoint Ratings Report.
On the positive front,
(
), up 24.5%,
(
), up 19.8%,
(
), up 19.1%, and
(
), up 18.3%, were all gainers within the health care sector with
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
(
) being today's featured health care sector leader.
- Use our health care section to find sector-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 care sector could consider
Health Care Select Sector SPDR
(
) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider
ProShares Ultra Short Health Care
(
).
- Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.
FREE for a limited time only: Get TheStreet Ratings #1 Stock Report NOW!
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