WellPoint Inc
WLP:NYSE
| Last | Change / % Change | Dividend Yield | Volume | Avg Volume (10 day) |
| 62.70 | -0.59 -0.93% | 1.82% | 2,931,939 | 2.1M |
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Latest News Headlines for WellPoint Inc
WellPoint is Among the Companies in the Managed Health Care Industry With the Lowest P/E Ratio (WLP, HUM, AET)
Below are the three companies in the Managed Health Care industry with the lowest price to earnings (P/E) ratios. P/E is an important valuation tool when comparing companies in the same industry. A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying more for each unit of net income, so the stock is more expensive compared to one with a lower P/E ratio.WellPoint (NYSE:WLP) is lowest with a P/E ratio of 8.46. WellPoint Inc. is a health benefits company. The Company provides health benefits, dental and vision benefits, pharmacy benefits, life insurance, and life and disability insurance benefits. WellPoint operations include Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. In the past 52 weeks, WellPoint share prices have been bracketed by a low of $52.52 and a high of $74.73 and are now at $63.44, 21% above that low price. Over the last five market days, the 200-day moving average (MA) has gone down 0.2% while the 50-day MA has advanced 1.2%.
WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) Could Break Through $64.70 Resistance Level
WellPoint Inc (NYSE: WLP) closed Thursday's trading session at $63.29. In the past year, the stock has hit a 52-week low of $52.52 and 52-week high of $74.73. WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) stock has been showing support around $61.92 and resistance in the $64.70 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P; gives WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy rating. For a hedged play on WellPoint Health Networks (WLP), look at the Jun '13 $65.00 covered call for a net debit in the $60.89 area. That is also the break-even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a duration of 127 days, provides 3.79% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 6.75% for an annualized return rate of 19.40% (for comparison purposes only). A lower-cost hedged play for WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) Jan '14 $52.50 call and selling the Jun '13 $65.00 call for a total debit of $9.80. The trade has a lifespan of 127 days and would provide 1.56% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 27.55% for an annualized return rate of 79% (for comparison purposes only). WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) has a current annual dividend yield of 1.74%.
Research on Humana and WellPoint: Healthcare Industry Prepares for Reforms
View more recent headlinesLONDON, February 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Healthcare industry is one of the most watched industrial sectors. With the upcoming healthcare regulations, the companies will need to restructure their businesses to ensure their long-term viability. However, some companies like WellPoint Inc. are better placed to withstand the new changes. The industry will see a paradigm shift under the new healthcare reforms. One of such changes pertains to the creation of health insurance exchanges. As many as 18 states are planning to establish such exchanges by 2014. Leading healthcare company Humana Inc. is planning to participate in the program in 10 states. StockCall has posted free technical research reports on Humana and WellPoint and these can be accessed by signing up at
Company Background
WellPoint, Inc. (WellPoint) is a health benefit company in terms of medical membership in the United States, serving 34.3 million medical members through its affiliated health plans and a total of 65.3 million individuals through all subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011. The Company manages its operations through three segments: Commercial, Consumer, and Other. The Company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), an association of independent health benefit plans. The Company offers a spectrum of network-based managed care plans to the large and small employer, individual, Medicaid and senior markets. Its managed care plans include preferred provider organizations (PPOs); health maintenance organizations (HMOs); point-of-service plans (POS) plans; traditional indemnity plans and other hybrid plans. In June 2012, the Company acquired 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc. In December 2012, WellPoint acquired AMERIGROUP Corp.
Bid/Size -- / -- | Ask/Size -- / -- |
Price Open 63.18 | Previous Close 63.29 |
Day High 63.81 | Day Low 62.57 |
52wk High/Date 74.73 / 3/30/2012 | 52wk Low/Date 52.515 / 7/26/2012 |
% off 52wk High -16.10% | % off 52wk Low 19.39% |
Beta (5 Yr) 0.9 | Market Capitalization 19.0B |
Shares Outstanding 303.7M | Volatility Avg 27.36 |
EPS(TTM) 8.13 | P/E Ratio 7.7x |
Dividend Announcement 11/7/2012 | Dividend Yield 1.82% |
Ex-Date 12/5/2012 | Date of Record 12/7/2012 |
Payable 0.2875 - QRTR | Payable Date 12/21/2012 |
Last Trade as of 2/15/2013 4:00 PM ET | |
WLP WellPoint Inc vs. Peers
| Peers | |
|---|---|
WLP WellPoint Inc | 3.89% |
Metlife Inc | 11.38% |
Prudential Financial Inc | 6.99% |
Aetna Inc. | 7.02% |
Coventry Health Care, Inc. | 3.50% |
WLP WellPoint Inc | 1.83% |
Metlife Inc | 2.02% |
Prudential Financial Inc | 2.80% |
Aetna Inc. | 1.61% |
Coventry Health Care, Inc. | 1.08% |
WLP WellPoint Inc | -0.93% |
Metlife Inc | -0.68% |
Prudential Financial Inc | 0.39% |
Aetna Inc. | -0.73% |
Coventry Health Care, Inc. | -0.45% |