In this article, we will take a look at the 14 Best GARP Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.Innovation and rapid technological change, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, are reshaping markets. AI is increasingly seen as a source of profits and productivity gains, and that has shifted how investors think about growth and valuation. Markets have experienced similar booms before. Many of them ended with volatility. This time, though, the belief that AI represents a lasting shift has allowed sentim ...

Sandy Hook Promise and WellCare of Kentucky Help Students Connect with Their Classmates LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of schools across the country celebrated National No One Eats Alone® Day , a program led by Sandy Hook Promise created to end social isolation and help students get to know one another, so that every student feels like they belong. ...

Group 1 - Truist Securities raised its price target on Centene to $49 from $47 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing constructive discussions with management and improving margin prospects across segments [1] - The firm highlighted expected Marketplace margin expansion in 2026 and anticipated progress in Medicaid during the second half of 2025, supported by initiatives designed to stabilize the health benefits ratio in 2026 [2] - Medicare Advantage remains on track toward breakeven, while 2026 Part D margins are assumed to remain prudent [2] Group 2 - Truist continues to see meaningful opportunities to unlock earnings power across Centene's business and reiterated its positive outlook on the stock [2]

others to step forward and invest in solutions that truly make a difference."Delivering Medically Tailored MealsA partnership with Project Angel Food delivered over 1 million medically tailored meals annually to Medi-Cal members through CalAIM from 2023 to 2025. In addition to meal delivery, the program provides twice-daily medically tailored meals for at least 12 weeks and includes nutrition counseling designed to improve health outcomes, support chronic disease management, and enhance overall well-being f ...

Core Insights - Canada Nickel Company has successfully completed an in-situ carbon sequestration pilot study at its Crawford Nickel Project, demonstrating a new pathway for permanent CO2 storage [1] - The pilot project sequestered approximately 12 tonnes of CO2, indicating the potential for large-scale decarbonization in mining operations [1] Group 1: Project Details - The carbon sequestration pilot was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, led by the University of Texas at Austin [1] - The pilot involved short-duration injection trials and continuous CO2-saturated water injection into a well drilled to a depth of 396 meters, confirming that the injected CO2 remained dissolved without surface leakage [1] - Monitoring of seismicity and water chemistry will continue in the coming months to ensure the effectiveness of the carbon sequestration process [1] Group 2: Economic and Environmental Impact - The direct injection approach has the potential to lower future mining costs by pre-conditioning and fracturing the rock mass, making it less energy-intensive for subsequent mining processes [1] - The initiative is part of Canada Nickel's vision for a Zero-Carbon Industrial Cluster in the Timmins region, expanding the company's carbon capture and storage capabilities [1] - The results from this study will inform future post-mining carbon sequestration strategies, enhancing the environmental and economic value of mining operations [1]

Membership and Enrollment - As of December 31, 2025, the company served 12.5 million Medicaid members, 5.5 million Marketplace members, 1.0 million Medicare Advantage members, and 8.1 million Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members[280]. - The company experienced a 3.6 million increase in Medicaid membership due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but anticipates future declines from ongoing state redetermination processes[291]. - Year-end membership decreased by 967 thousand members, or 3%, to 27.6 million compared to 2024[302]. - Marketplace membership for Ambetter Health increased by 26% year-over-year due to geographic expansion and strong enrollment results[308]. - The company operates Ambetter Health in 29 states and is focusing on attracting ICHRA membership in off-exchange plans in 13 states in 2026[320]. Financial Performance - Total revenues reached $194.8 billion, representing a 19% year-over-year growth[302]. - Premium and service revenues increased to $174.6 billion, reflecting a 20% growth year-over-year[302]. - The Health Benefit Ratio (HBR) for 2025 was 91.9%, up from 88.3% in 2024[302]. - Operating cash flows improved significantly to $5.1 billion for 2025, compared to $154 million for 2024[302]. - GAAP diluted loss per share was $(13.53) for 2025, primarily due to a goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion[302]. - Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 was $2.08, down from $7.17 in 2024[302]. - Total revenues increased by 19% in 2025 to $194,777 million, driven by premium yield and membership growth in the PDP business, and rate increases in the Medicaid business[324][325]. - Total revenues from the Medicare segment increased by 62% to $37,210 million in 2025, primarily due to increased PDP premium yield and membership[335][337]. - Total revenues from the Commercial segment increased by 25% to $42,003 million in 2025, driven by 26% membership growth in the Marketplace business[335][338]. Medical Costs and Claims - The company recorded a significant increase in medical cost trends in 2025, driven by rising medical demand and high-cost pharmaceuticals[287]. - Medical costs rose by 25% to $157,702 million in 2025, leading to a higher medical loss ratio (HBR) of 91.9% compared to 88.3% in 2024[324][326]. - The company incurred $160.109 billion in medical claims related to the current year for 2025, compared to $128.312 billion in 2024[391]. - The medical claims liability balance as of December 31, 2025, was $20.544 billion, an increase from $18.308 billion in 2024[391]. - The company estimates that a 1% increase or decrease in medical claims liability would have affected net earnings by $204 million for the year ended December 31, 2025[390]. Divestitures and Impairments - The company completed the divestiture of Magellan Rx for $1.3 billion in December 2022, recognizing a gain of $269 million[282]. - In January 2023, the company sold Magellan Specialty Health for $646 million, recognizing a gain of $79 million[283]. - In December 2025, the company signed a definitive agreement to divest the remaining Magellan Health businesses, resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $513 million[308]. - The company recorded a goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion due to a decline in the fair value of certain reporting units[381]. - Impairment charges totaled $7.3 billion in 2025, including a $6.7 billion goodwill impairment, significantly impacting net earnings, which resulted in a loss of $6,674 million[329]. Cash Flow and Capital Management - The company recorded a net cash provided by operating activities of $5,088 million in 2025, a substantial increase from $154 million in 2024[341][342]. - Cash flows from investing activities provided $472 million in 2025, compared to a cash usage of $1.1 billion in 2024, with 2025's cash flows consisting of net reductions to the investment portfolio[344]. - Capital expenditures amounted to $767 million in 2025, up from $644 million in 2024, primarily for system enhancements and computer hardware[345]. - As of December 31, 2025, unregulated cash and investments totaled $1.5 billion, an increase from $1.1 billion in 2024, with $400 million available for general corporate use[346]. - Financing activities used cash of $1.6 billion in 2025, a decrease from $2.4 billion in 2024, driven by stock repurchases of $475 million[347]. - The debt-to-capital ratio increased to 46.5% as of December 31, 2025, from 41.2% in 2024, primarily due to goodwill impairment[356]. - Working capital remained stable at $3.7 billion as of December 31, 2025, compared to the same date in 2024[357]. Regulatory and Legislative Environment - The IRA changes effective for 2025 resulted in a significant increase in premiums for the company's stand-alone Medicare PDPs due to shifts in cost-sharing responsibilities[296]. - The company anticipates that the expiration of enhanced APTCs and new regulations will reduce 2026 Marketplace membership and increase overall morbidity[295]. - The company continues to advocate for legislation to maintain health insurance coverage and affordability for consumers amid regulatory changes[295]. - The company expects continued impacts on Medicare Advantage and PDP results due to strategic positioning and bid strategy, with integrated D-SNPs enhancing care coordination starting in 2030[320]. Investment and Market Risk - As of December 31, 2025, the company had short-term investments of $2.4 billion and long-term investments of $18.4 billion, including restricted deposits of $1.4 billion[403]. - The company’s long-term investments include municipal, corporate, and U.S. Treasury securities, government-sponsored obligations, life insurance contracts, asset-backed securities, equity securities, and private equity investments[403]. - A hypothetical and immediate 1% increase in market interest rates would decrease the fair value of the company's fixed income investments by approximately $650 million[403]. - The company’s market risk exposure is primarily due to fluctuations in interest rates, which may impact its financial condition[401]. - Declines in interest rates over time will reduce the company's investment income[403].

Core Insights - Ambetter Health, in collaboration with KABOOM! and the City of Hialeah, has successfully completed a new playground at Southeast Park, built in a single day on January 30, 2026 [1] - The initiative aims to provide local children with a safe space for play, social interaction, and outdoor recreation, promoting healthier lifestyles [1] Company Overview - Ambetter Health is a product offered by Centene Corporation through the Health Insurance Marketplace, focusing on serving underserved populations [1] - The company emphasizes community engagement and health promotion through initiatives like the playground project [1] Partnership Details - The project marks the second collaboration between Ambetter Health, KABOOM!, and the City of Hialeah, following a successful playground build at Bucky Dent Park in 2019 [1] - KABOOM! is a national nonprofit dedicated to addressing playspace inequity, having created or transformed over 17,000 playspaces and ensuring access for more than 12 million children [1] Community Impact - The new playground is seen as an investment in children's health and happiness, with over 100 volunteers participating in its construction [1] - The City of Hialeah, which has a predominantly Hispanic population, aims to provide quality and affordable services to its residents, enhancing community well-being through such projects [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of unique insights and knowledge in stock analysis, aiming to provide contrasting views on investment portfolios [1] Group 1 - The analyst expresses a commitment to sharing personal opinions and insights without any financial compensation from the companies mentioned [2] - The analysis is intended solely for informational purposes, highlighting the necessity for investors to conduct their own research and due diligence [3] - There is a clear disclaimer that past performance does not guarantee future results, and no specific investment recommendations are made [4]

Core Insights - Centene Corporation reported a quarterly loss of $1.19 per share, which was better than the estimated loss of $1.22 per share [1][3] - The company's revenue for the quarter ending December 2025 was $49.73 billion, exceeding the estimated $48.41 billion and representing a 21.9% increase from the previous year's $40.81 billion [2][6] - For the full year 2025, Centene reported a GAAP diluted loss per share of $13.53, while the adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.08, with projections for adjusted diluted earnings per share to exceed $3.00 in 2026 [4][6] Financial Performance - Centene's EPS of -$1.19 was a positive surprise compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a $1.25 loss, marking a 4.76% positive deviation [3] - The company has consistently exceeded consensus revenue estimates over the past four quarters, demonstrating strong performance [2] - The Health Benefits Ratio (HBR) for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 94.3%, indicating improvements in Medicaid HBR [4][6] Financial Metrics - Centene's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is -3.55, and the price-to-sales ratio is 0.10, reflecting its current negative earnings situation [5] - The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.84, suggesting a moderate level of debt compared to equity [5] - A current ratio of 1.08 indicates that Centene maintains a reasonable level of short-term financial health [5]

Core Viewpoint - Centene Corporation reported a fourth-quarter adjusted loss despite revenue exceeding Wall Street expectations, primarily due to high costs in the Commercial segment, leading to a more than 6% drop in shares following the announcement [1]. Financial Performance - The company recorded an adjusted loss of $1.19 per share for the quarter, which was slightly better than analyst expectations of a $1.22 loss [2]. - Revenue increased by 23% year over year to $49.73 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $48.39 billion [2]. - The consolidated health benefits ratio (HBR) rose sharply to 94.3%, compared to 89.6% in the same quarter last year [2]. Segment Analysis - The Commercial segment had an HBR of 95.4%, which was approximately 100 basis points above company expectations due to net out-of-period items [3]. - The Medicaid segment showed improvement with an HBR of 93.0%, reflecting a 40-basis-point sequential improvement from the third quarter [3]. Future Guidance - For the full year 2025, Centene reported adjusted earnings of $2.08 per share on revenue of $194.78 billion, indicating a 20% increase compared to 2024 [4]. - The company provided guidance for 2026, projecting adjusted earnings per share of more than $3.00, demonstrating confidence in its recovery efforts [4].