Aetna Rose 12% Last Week

HMO operator

Aetna

(AET)

was up more than 12% for the week after posting its first operating profit in a year on Thursday. Despite posting a first-quarter loss of $2.83 billon, or 19 cents a share, investors celebrated the company's pro forma profit of $64.9 million, or 44 cents a share, as a sign that a turnaround may be on the horizon. Analysts had expected 3 cents a share, on average. Aetna has struggled to return to profitability and control skyrocketing medical costs, and this quarter's operating earnings were seen as a step in the right direction by both analysts and investors, who pushed the stock up and rejected an attempt by an investment firm to appoint a new board member in place of management's nominee.