humana stock (HUM)
humana stock (HUM)
humana stock refers to the publicly traded common shares of Humana Inc., ticker symbol HUM, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This article provides a comprehensive investor-focused overview of humana stock, including market data, financials, risks, analyst coverage, and resources for research. Readers will learn how Humana’s business translates into stock fundamentals, where to find reliable quotes and filings, and which factors commonly move HUM shares.
As of January 24, 2026, per Barchart, Humana Inc. is a major U.S. health insurer with a market capitalization of roughly $32.9 billion. The company is scheduled to announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results before the market opens on February 11. The data and commentary in this article reference public market sources and company disclosures; they are factual summaries and not investment advice.
Company overview
Humana Inc. operates as a health insurance and managed care company serving Medicare Advantage, Medicaid/state contracts, commercial fully-insured lines, pharmacy services, and care delivery through its CenterWell business. The company’s core operating segments typically include:
- Insurance and Care Delivery: Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid and government-sponsored programs, and commercial insurance products.
- CenterWell (healthcare services): ambulatory care, primary care clinics, home-based care and ancillary services intended to integrate care delivery with insurance products.
- Pharmacy and specialty services: prescription management and pharmacy-related offerings that influence total medical spend.
Humana’s revenue and profit profile is driven primarily by membership and pricing in Medicare Advantage, medical cost trends (utilization and unit costs), provider network costs, and pharmacy costs. Changes in star ratings, reimbursement policy, or medical cost inflation can materially affect operating margins and earnings, which in turn influence humana stock performance.
Ticker, exchange and identifiers
- Ticker symbol: HUM
- Primary exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
- Common identifiers: CUSIP and ISIN are assigned for U.S.-listed securities and appear on official filings and broker pages (consult Humana investor relations or regulatory filings for exact codes).
- Trading hours: Regular U.S. equity trading hours apply (pre-market and after-hours trading exist via broker platforms, often with delayed reporting on public portals).
- Listing history: Humana has been publicly traded for many years under the HUM symbol; any historical stock splits, symbol changes or corporate reorganizations are documented in company filings and investor relations materials.
Market data and trading information
Market-data sections for humana stock typically show:
- Current price and intraday quote
- Bid and ask
- Daily high and low
- 52-week range
- Market capitalization
- Average daily trading volume and recent volume
- Dividend yield and last payment (if applicable)
- Exchange and exchange hours
Real-time quotes are available through brokerage platforms; many public finance portals present delayed quotes (often 15–20 minutes delayed) or provide near real-time updates with disclaimers. Common finance portals that list humana stock include major financial news and data sites as well as broker pages.
As of January 24, 2026, per Barchart, Humana’s market capitalization is roughly $32.9 billion. Over the prior 52 weeks HUM has lagged the broader S&P 500 and relevant healthcare services ETFs, driven in part by pressures in its Medicare Advantage business and higher-than-expected medical costs.
Price history and charting
Historical charts for humana stock help investors assess past performance and trends. Useful chart views include daily, weekly, monthly and multi-year timeframes. Key chart features to review:
- Total return (price plus dividends) over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, and since-inception periods.
- Moving averages (e.g., 50-day, 200-day) to identify trend direction.
- Volume spikes associated with earnings, guidance changes, or regulatory news.
- Relative performance versus peers and relevant indices (e.g., S&P 500, health care services ETFs).
Technical indicators commonly used for HUM include RSI to flag potential overbought/oversold conditions, MACD for momentum shifts, and moving-average crossovers for trend confirmation. Technical signals should be used with an understanding of the underlying business context, especially for healthcare insurers where regulatory and membership developments can dominate price action.
Trading liquidity and volume
Humana stock typically exhibits significant daily liquidity given its large market cap and institutional ownership. Average daily volume and order-book depth matter for execution:
- Higher average volume supports tighter bid/ask spreads and easier execution for retail and institutional orders.
- Periods of earnings announcements, regulatory news, or large analyst reports can temporarily widen spreads and increase volatility.
- Large block trades or index rebalancing by ETFs and funds can create short-term price pressure.
Investors placing large orders should consider execution strategies (limit orders, working orders) and may work with brokers to minimize market impact.
Financials and fundamentals
Investors evaluate humana stock based on revenue growth, margins, earnings per share (EPS), cash flow, and balance-sheet strength. Key metrics include:
- Revenue and revenue growth (quarterly and annual)
- Net income and adjusted earnings (non-GAAP metrics commonly used by insurers)
- EPS (reported and adjusted, trailing twelve months and forward estimates)
- Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios, both trailing and forward
- EBITDA and operating margins
- Benefit ratio / adjusted benefit ratio (measure of claims and medical costs relative to premiums)
- Cash position, debt levels and leverage ratios
Humana reports results on a quarterly and annual cadence. Official filings (SEC Form 10-Q for quarterly reports and Form 10-K for annual reports) provide audited financial statements, MD&A commentary and risk disclosures.
Key historical and recent figures (reported by market sources):
- For Q3 2025 (reported November 5, 2025), Humana reported revenue of $32.7 billion, up 11.1% year-over-year. Non-GAAP EPS was $3.24, down 22.1% year-over-year, driven by rising medical utilization and an adjusted benefit ratio of 91.1%.
- Analysts’ fiscal 2025 EPS consensus expects approximately $17.08 per share, up modestly from fiscal 2024; fiscal 2026 estimates declined in some models to about $12.14 per share on deteriorating near-term projections.
When reviewing financials, pay attention to non-GAAP adjustments, the benefit ratio (a critical operational metric for insurers), reserve development, and membership trends in Medicare Advantage.
Dividends and capital allocation
Humana’s approach to capital allocation historically includes dividends and share repurchase programs alongside investments in care-delivery capabilities. For dividend analysis:
- Review dividend payment frequency and trailing yield as reported on market-data pages.
- Track any announced share-repurchase authorizations and actual repurchases in the quarter or year.
Capital allocation decisions signal management priorities: investing in CenterWell and care delivery may be aimed at long-term margin improvement, whereas buybacks indicate returns to shareholders when management views shares as undervalued.
Corporate actions and governance
Important corporate actions that affect humana stock include stock splits, secondary offerings, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and leadership changes. Investors should monitor:
- SEC filings and investor relations newsletters announcing corporate actions.
- M&A activity (e.g., acquisitions to expand CenterWell or pharmacy capabilities) which can alter growth trajectories and leverage.
- Management and board composition, including any recent CEO or CFO changes, which influence investor confidence.
Corporate governance disclosures and proxy statements outline executive compensation, board committees, and governance policies that may factor into institutional voting and long-term shareholder alignment.
Major shareholders and ownership
Ownership of humana stock typically comprises institutional investors, mutual funds, ETFs, and insiders. Key points:
- Institutional ownership often represents a significant percentage of shares outstanding and can include mutual funds, pension funds, and asset managers.
- Insider holdings (executives and directors) are disclosed in proxy statements and SEC Form 4 filings.
- ETF inclusion: HUM may be held by sector or healthcare services ETFs; index rebalancing can affect daily flows.
Ownership data are reported on most finance portals and in company filings; they are useful for understanding shareholder concentration and potential sources of buying or selling pressure.
Analyst coverage and market consensus
Sell-side analysts track humana stock and publish ratings (Buy/Hold/Sell), price targets, and earnings estimates. As of January 24, 2026, per Barchart:
- Coverage summary across 27 analysts showed a mixed view: 7 Strong Buy, 2 Moderate Buy, 16 Hold, and 2 Strong Sell.
- The mean price target reported was approximately $286.50, implying modest upside relative to recent trading prices according to that snapshot.
Analyst activity (upgrades, downgrades, target changes) can drive intraday moves, particularly around earnings or major regulatory news. Investors should compare consensus estimates for EPS, revenue, and membership trends and review the assumptions behind analyst models.
Options and derivatives activity
Humana stock generally has listed options contracts. Options activity provides additional layers of investor expression:
- Calls and puts allow traders to express directional views or to hedge equity positions.
- Open interest and volume on specific strikes and expirations indicate where market participants are positioning.
- Implied volatility (IV) reflects market expectations for future volatility; IV often rises ahead of earnings and major announcements.
Common option strategies for HUM include covered calls for income, protective puts for downside protection, and calendar or vertical spreads for defined-risk positions. Monitoring options flows can provide sentiment signals but requires careful interpretation and risk management.
Investment thesis and valuation perspectives
Investors frame bullish and bearish arguments for humana stock based on business fundamentals, competitive position, and macro/regulatory outlook.
Bullish considerations:
- Large Medicare Advantage footprint: a material and growing business that can deliver stable cash flows with favorable demographics.
- Diversified services: CenterWell and pharmacy services can expand margins through care integration and lower costs.
- Scale advantages in provider contracting and claims management.
Bearish considerations:
- Regulatory and reimbursement risk: changes to Medicare policy or rate-setting can compress earnings.
- Star Ratings and quality downgrades: recent downgrades in star ratings for some MA plans have pressured membership and perception.
- Rising medical utilization and cost inflation exceeding premium adjustments can reduce profitability.
Valuation approaches commonly applied to HUM include:
- Comparable valuation (P/E, EV/EBITDA) versus peers in health insurance and health-care services.
- Discounted cash flow (DCF) modeling using explicit forecasts for membership, premium growth, medical cost trends, and capital expenditures.
- Scenario analysis to account for regulatory changes, membership shifts, and margin recovery timelines.
Investors should ground valuation in transparent assumptions about benefit ratios, membership trends, and governmental reimbursement policies.
Risks and regulatory considerations
Principal risks for humana stock include:
- Policy and regulatory risk: legislative changes to Medicare Advantage reimbursement or benefits can have immediate earnings impacts.
- Medical cost inflation and utilization risk: higher-than-expected claims increase the benefit ratio and cut profitability.
- Quality ratings and enrollment: downgrades in Star Ratings can reduce enrollment and revenue.
- Litigation and compliance: legal actions or regulatory enforcement can lead to fines and reputational harm.
- Competitive risk: other insurers and integrated care players may capture market share or drive pricing pressure.
Risk disclosures and detailed operational risk factors are available in Humana’s SEC filings and investor-relations materials.
Recent news and developments
Types of company news that commonly move humana stock include earnings releases, guidance updates, material contract awards or losses, partnerships, regulatory actions, and leadership changes.
Recent highlights (as reported by market sources and summarized by Barchart as of January 24, 2026):
- Ongoing Medicare Advantage challenges, including material downgrades in Star Ratings for certain major plans, which have pressured enrollment and margins.
- Higher-than-expected medical utilization that raised the adjusted benefit ratio to levels that compressed non-GAAP EPS in recent quarters.
- Q3 2025 results (reported Nov. 5, 2025): revenue up 11.1% YOY to $32.7 billion; adjusted benefit ratio 91.1%; non-GAAP EPS $3.24, down 22.1% YOY.
- Analyst consensus and forecasts showing fiscal 2025 EPS estimates around $17.08 per share, with fiscal 2026 EPS estimates lower in some models.
Watchlist items ahead of upcoming results (e.g., the fiscal Q4 2025 release scheduled for February 11): membership trends in Medicare Advantage, updated guidance on benefit ratios and EPS, commentary on Star Ratings, and any strategic updates on CenterWell expansion.
Historical notable events
Investors should be aware of material historical events that affected HUM shares, which may include:
- Major acquisitions aimed at expanding care delivery or pharmacy services.
- Significant changes in Medicare Advantage policy or rating methodologies.
- Large swings in earnings due to reserve changes, litigation outcomes, or regulatory penalties.
- Management transitions or governance changes.
These events are documented in Humana’s investor-relations archives and SEC filings, and they help contextualize how the stock reacted under similar conditions in the past.
Comparable companies and peer group
Primary competitors and peers for valuation and operational benchmarking include large health insurers and managed-care companies as well as certain integrated healthcare services firms. Investors often compare HUM to other major health insurers and health-services companies and to sector ETFs focused on healthcare services.
When building peer comparisons, use consistent metrics (P/E, P/B, EV/EBITDA, margins, benefit ratios) and normalize for business mix differences (Medicare Advantage exposure vs. commercial insurance, care-delivery integration).
How to research and where to find information
Primary and reliable sources for researching humana stock include:
- Humana Investor Relations: earnings releases, presentations, SEC filings (10-Q and 10-K), and guidance.
- SEC filings in EDGAR for audited financial statements and risk disclosures.
- Major financial data providers and news portals for up-to-date market quotes, analyst consensus, and ownership breakdowns.
- Broker research reports and sell-side analyst notes for detail on assumptions and sensitivity analyses.
When reading market-data pages, confirm whether quotes are real-time or delayed, and cross-check important figures (market cap, EPS, P/E) with company filings for accuracy.
See also
- Humana Inc. (company profile and corporate history)
- Medicare Advantage (program overview and policy considerations)
- Health insurance industry dynamics
- Peer companies and sector ETFs for comparative analysis
References
Sources used in compiling this article include public financial news and market-data providers and Humana’s investor-relations disclosures. Primary referenced sources (names only, for verification in official portals and filings):
- Yahoo Finance — Humana Inc. (HUM) stock page
- Robinhood — HUM stock quote & news
- Humana Inc. — Investor Relations (stock quote and filings)
- CNBC — HUM quote page
- MarketWatch — HUM stock page
- Google Finance — HUM symbol page
- Barchart — HUM coverage and analyst consensus (market summary dated January 24, 2026)
All quantitative figures and dates above are drawn from the referenced public market reports and Humana’s disclosed results. For the most current numbers, consult company filings and real-time broker data.
External links
Primary places to verify filings and company releases:
- Humana Investor Relations (official company disclosures)
- SEC EDGAR filings for HUM
- Major finance portals for quote snapshots and analyst consensus
How to act on research: practical steps for beginners
- Start with the company filings: read the latest Form 10-Q or 10-K and the most recent earnings presentation to understand membership trends, benefit ratios, and management guidance.
- Check up-to-date market quotes and volume data on reliable finance portals or via your broker. Note whether quotes are real-time.
- Review analyst consensus for upcoming quarterly results and compare assumptions across reports.
- Consider risk factors: star ratings, Medicare policy risk, membership trends, and medical-cost inflation.
- If you choose to trade or build a watchlist, use limit orders and set execution parameters to control slippage.
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Notes on data timeliness and disclaimers
- As of January 24, 2026, per Barchart, key data points include a market cap of approximately $32.9 billion, analyst coverage summarized across 27 analysts with a mean price target around $286.50, and the company’s scheduled fiscal Q4 2025 earnings announcement on February 11. Quarterly figures cited (e.g., Q3 2025 revenue and EPS) reflect reported figures as noted in public disclosures.
- This article summarizes public information for educational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Readers should consult licensed financial professionals for personalized guidance. Verify all figures against primary filings before making investment decisions.
Further exploration and resources
To follow humana stock closely:
- Monitor Humana’s investor-relations page for earnings releases and guidance updates.
- Track SEC filings for formal financial statements and risk disclosures.
- Watch major finance portals for intraday quotes and analyst updates.
- Review options market activity and open interest if monitoring derivative sentiment.
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Final reading suggestions
For a structured approach to learning about humana stock:
- Begin with the most recent annual report to understand strategic priorities and long-term risks.
- Read the latest quarterly earnings presentation and listen to the earnings call transcript to capture management tone and guidance.
- Compare benefit ratio trends and membership disclosures quarter-over-quarter.
- Keep a watchlist for star-rating updates and policy developments that could influence Medicare Advantage economics.
Further practical actions: set news alerts for Humana’s filings and major health-care policy announcements, and consider paper-trading scenarios to test valuation assumptions without immediate capital at risk.
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