Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) Reaches New 12-Month High After Dividend Announcement

Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday following a dividend announcement from the company. The company traded as high as $437.00 and last traded at $434.2820, with a volume of 39,762 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $430.23.

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Friday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 4th will be issued a dividend of $1.72 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 4th. This represents a $6.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. Elevance Health’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.58%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $488.00 price objective on Elevance Health in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Elevance Health in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Wall Street Zen cut Elevance Health from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, July 12th. Barclays upped their target price on Elevance Health from $457.00 to $469.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Elevance Health from $492.00 to $473.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $441.71.

Elevance Health Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $94.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.34, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.70. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $406.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $389.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.52.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 21st. The company reported $6.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.71 by $2.28. The business had revenue of $50.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $49.28 billion. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 14.64% and a net margin of 2.47%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.03 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Elevance Health, Inc. will post 27.20 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Elevance Health

Here are the key news stories impacting Elevance Health this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly results exceeded expectations: Adjusted earnings were $6.99 per share versus the roughly $4.66–$4.71 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $50.44 billion, above expectations of about $49.22 billion. Earnings also increased from $6.03 per share a year earlier. Elevance Health Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results; Raises Full-Year Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: 2026 outlook was raised: Management lifted its underlying earnings baseline to at least $26.75 per share, citing disciplined expense management and better medical-cost performance. Elevance also expects at least 12% adjusted EPS growth in 2027 from the higher earnings base. Elevance lifts 2026 profit forecast on better medical cost management
• Positive Sentiment: Carelon remained a growth driver: Strength in the services business helped offset pressure elsewhere, supporting management’s confidence in future growth. Elevance named Jeff Park president of Carelon, effective December 1, to lead its next expansion phase. Elevance Health Names Jeff Park President of Carelon
• Neutral Sentiment: Elevance declared a quarterly dividend of $1.72 per share, or $6.88 annualized, representing a yield of approximately 1.6%. The payout supports shareholder returns but is unlikely to be the primary near-term trading catalyst.
• Negative Sentiment: Membership pressure remains a concern: The earnings beat occurred despite declining medical membership, increasing investor focus on enrollment trends and the company’s ability to sustain growth.
• Negative Sentiment: Although cost management improved, Elevance operates on a thin net margin, and continued medical-cost inflation or weaker enrollment could limit the benefit of the raised forecast. The shares have also recently traded near a 52-week high, potentially increasing profit-taking risk.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Elevance Health

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 26.2% during the third quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 164 shares of the company’s stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the period. Vest Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 60,888 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,674,000 after purchasing an additional 4,261 shares in the last quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. now owns 4,030 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,567,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Canoe Financial LP boosted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 364,526 shares of the company’s stock valued at $139,129,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 365 WMG Private Fund I Primus Fund LLC bought a new stake in shares of Elevance Health in the 3rd quarter worth about $930,000. 89.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Elevance Health Company Profile

Elevance Health, Inc (NYSE: ELV) is a diversified health benefits company that provides health insurance and related services in the United States. Its offerings serve employers, individuals and families, as well as members of government-sponsored programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. The company provides medical, pharmacy, behavioral health and other benefits through a range of health plans and specialty products.

Elevance Health operates its health benefits businesses through a portfolio that includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated plans and other insurance offerings.