Humana (HUM)

Benzinga examined the prospects for many investors' favorite stocks over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.

Shares of health coverage company Centene (NYSE:CNC) jumped 5.9% in the afternoon session after the company reported second-quarter results that missed earnings estimates, but the stock rallied as investors looked past the disappointment as sales came in ahead of expectations. 

Molina Healthcare missed Q2 EPS estimates and lowered its 2025 guidance, pressuring major health insurers including UnitedHealth and Centene.

Shares of medical technology company Integer Holdings (NYSE:ITGR) fell 8.3% in the afternoon session after the company reported second-quarter results that featured a slight miss on a key profitability metric, which overshadowed a revenue beat and raised profit guidance. 

Shares of healthcare products company West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) jumped 22.9% in the afternoon session after the company reported strong second-quarter 2025 financial results and raised its full-year outlook. 

A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after a new trade agreement between the United States and Japan spurred a broad market rally. 

A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after a new trade agreement between the United States and Japan spurred a broad market rally. The positive sentiment swept across markets after it was announced the U.S. and Japan had reached a new trade deal. The agreement included a 15% tariff on Japanese goods imported into the U.S. and a commitment from Japan to invest $550 billion in the U.S. and open its markets to American cars and agricultural products. This development boosted investor confidence and contributed to a widespread rally, lifting stocks across many sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both posted gains, creating a favorable environment that likely benefited individual stocks.

Shares of life sciences company Thermo Fisher (NYSE:TMO) jumped 12.3% in the afternoon session after the company reported second-quarter earnings and revenue that surpassed Wall Street estimates and raised its full-year financial guidance. The company posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $5.36 on revenue of $10.85 billion. These results topped the average analyst estimates, which had projected an EPS of $5.22 on revenue of $10.65 billion. EPS is a widely used metric of a company's profitability. Following the strong quarterly performance, Thermo Fisher lifted its outlook for the full year. The company now expected 2025 revenue to be between $43.6 billion and $44.2 billion, raising the lower end of its previous forecast. It also increased its adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $22.22 to $22.84. The better-than-expected results were driven by growth in its Life Sciences Solutions and Lab Products & Biopharma Services divisions.

Humana will cut prior authorizations, launch a gold card program, and speed up electronic approvals to improve care access and transparency by 2026.

Shares of life sciences company Azenta (NASDAQ:AZTA) jumped 5.7% in the afternoon session after the investment firm Stephens initiated coverage on the life sciences company. 

Shares of healthcare staffing company AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE:AMN) jumped 6% in the afternoon session after Truist Securities reiterated its 'Buy' rating on the company. The Wall Street firm pointed to a potential recovery in the international travel nursing segment as a key driver for future growth. An analyst at Truist noted that improvements in the visa process for healthcare professionals could provide a meaningful boost to AMN's performance. This comes after a significant drop in employment-based (EB) visa recipients in recent years, which has impacted the availability of international nurses. While forecasting the international business remains challenging, Truist sees the potential for recovery in this area as a source of upside for the company.

Shares of clinical research company Fortrea Holdings (NASDAQ:FTRE) jumped 24.1% in the afternoon session after positive earnings reports from industry peers lifted the entire contract research organization sector. The rally was sparked by strong second-quarter results from two major players in the space, IQVIA and Medpace, which both reported earnings and revenue that beat analyst expectations. Medpace, in particular, surged after significantly raising its full-year guidance for revenue and earnings. This wave of good news from competitors boosted investor confidence across the sector, leading to gains for other contract research organizations (CROs) like Fortrea. A CRO provides outsourced research and development services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Fortrea is scheduled to report its own second-quarter financial results on August 6, 2025.

Humana CEO Jim Rechtin said that the current healthcare system is “too complex, frustrating, and difficult to navigate” while emphasising the need to “do better.”

Shares of biotech company Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) fell 3.1% in the morning session after analysts at Truist downgraded the stock, citing concerns over the company's growth prospects and high-risk pipeline. The brokerage lowered its rating on the drugmaker to "hold" from "buy" and significantly cut its price target to $142 from $199. Truist expressed a lack of optimism regarding Biogen's Alzheimer's drug opportunity, forecasting only modest growth for Leqembi. The downgrade also pointed to weak growth prospects for the company's existing products and noted that its late-stage pipeline is viewed as high-risk. Analysts at the firm believe sales for other key drugs, Zurzuvae and Skyclarys, have limited growth potential or have already peaked. The negative sentiment from the analyst action appeared to overshadow other company news, as Biogen separately announced a $2 billion investment to expand its manufacturing footprint in North Carolina.

Shares of healthcare insurance company Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH) fell 3.8% in the afternoon session after TD Cowen lowered its price target on the stock to $283 from $369, citing elevated medical costs. 

Shares of medical technology company Enovis Corporation (NYSE:ENOV) jumped 3.3% in the morning session after the stock gained ground amid a broader market rally as investors looked ahead to a busy week of corporate earnings reports. U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open, creating a positive environment for investors. Major indices like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher in early trading. With no significant, market-moving news released by the medical technology company, its shares appeared to be lifted by the overall positive market sentiment. Notably, the earnings season got off to a strong start: More than 85% of the S&P 500 stocks that reported earnings exceeded expectations, according to FactSet data. This robust performance fueled positive sentiment, suggesting that corporate profitability remained resilient despite ongoing economic uncertainties.

Shares of healthcare tech company Privia Health Group (NASDAQ:PRVA) jumped 3.4% in the morning session as investors anticipated a heavy week of corporate earnings. There was no company-specific news to explain the move, suggesting the physician enablement company's stock was lifted by positive sentiment in the wider market. U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open, with major indices edging up in early trading. This upbeat mood came as Wall Street braced for a significant number of earnings reports from major U.S. companies. Notably, the earnings season got off to a strong start: More than 85% of the S&P 500 stocks that reported earnings exceeded expectations, according to FactSet data. This robust performance fueled positive sentiment, suggesting that corporate profitability remained resilient despite ongoing economic uncertainties.

Shares of scientific instrument company Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR). fell 13.8% in the afternoon session after the company released disappointing preliminary second-quarter financial results, which pointed to a significant drop in earnings and a decline in organic revenue. The scientific instrument maker announced that it expects second-quarter revenue to be between $795 million and $798 million, roughly flat compared to the same period last year. However, on an organic basis, which excludes impacts from currency and acquisitions, revenue is projected to have declined by approximately 7%. The company also anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $0.32 to $0.34, a steep fall of about $0.19 from the prior year. Bruker attributed the weak performance to soft demand from academic institutions and a slowdown in the U.S. biopharma market, which impacted quarterly bookings.

A number of healthcare stocks fell in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively. 

A number of healthcare stocks fell in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively. 

A number of healthcare stocks fell in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively. 

A number of healthcare stocks fell in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively. 

Shares of specialty pharmaceutical company Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SUPN) fell 3.2% in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively. 

A number of healthcare stocks fell in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively. 

A number of healthcare stocks fell in the afternoon session after several negative developments weighed on the sector. Weakness in managed care providers was a significant factor, with companies like Elevance Health and Humana seeing declines due to an analyst downgrade and a lost lawsuit regarding Medicare bonus payments, respectively.