Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy41 ratings
Bullish3585.4%
Neutral614.6%
Bearish00.0%
CVS Health Corp. · CVS · FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026
CVS raises 2026 outlook and plans a two-company separation
CVS’s higher outlook and reported operating progress support its near-term earnings trajectory, while the planned separation and 340B and Medicare trends make execution and earnings durability central questions.
Reported Before market openNYSEHealthcare
$116.91B market cap
80quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
—
Consensus $1.65
EPS surprise
—
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
—
Consensus $104.69B
Revenue surprise
—
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
-12.5%
Event window
SPY move
+1.7%
Same window
Abnormal move
-14.2%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
4.0×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
0.0%
Up to 20 sessions
CVSSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about CVS FY2026 Q3
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
What drove CVS's -12.5% move after FY2026 Q3 earnings?What changed in CVS's guidance and outlook in FY2026 Q3?Give me the bull and bear case for CVS after FY2026 Q3 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Management announced plans to separate CVS into CVS Health, focused on health solutions, and CVS Pharmacy, focused on retail pharmacy, with completion targeted for the first half of 2028. It also raised its 2026 outlook, said leverage targets were achieved ahead of schedule, and said share repurchases would resume in Q4.
Guidance delta
Management raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to at least $8.20 and cash flow guidance to at least $15.5 billion. It set a 2027 EPS outlook of $8.65, reflecting expected 13% growth and continued Medicare Advantage margin improvement.
Key takeaways
- Q3 adjusted operating income was $4.2 billion and adjusted EPS was $2.09, with EPS up more than 30% year over year, according to the supplied transcript analysis.
- The separation plan would create two independent public companies; completion is targeted for H1 2028.
- Management cited Medicare Advantage margin improvement, prescription volume growth, specialty pharmacy demand and AI-enabled workflows as operating priorities.
- The transcript analysis identifies 340B decline and health-plan membership attrition as headwinds to monitor.
Management priorities
- Complete the planned separation by H1 2028.
- Continue the Medicare Advantage margin-improvement program through 2027.
- Grow specialty pharmacy services and use PBM capabilities.
- Expand the Health 100 AI consumer-engagement platform and AI-enabled workflows.
Follow CVS with an agent that reads every filing, transcript, and price print. Free to start.
Try FN2 freeEarnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$79.96Current
$66Low
$107.16Average
$126High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Nov 5, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leerink Partners | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Oct 12, 2026 |
| UBS | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Sep 3, 2026 |
| Argus Research | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 19, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Aug 12, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Barclays | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Truist Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jul 14, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jul 13, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jul 9, 2026 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jul 7, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 23, 2026 |
| Mizuho | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 8, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jun 4, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | May 13, 2026 |
| TD Cowen | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 11, 2026 |
| Baird | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Apr 15, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Jefferies | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 30, 2025 |
| Deutsche Bank | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Dec 3, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 2, 2024 |
| Wolfe Research | Outperform | Peer Perform | Upgrade | Sep 12, 2023 |
| Edward Jones | Hold | Buy | Downgrade | Aug 18, 2023 |
| Raymond James | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 4, 2023 |
| Credit Suisse | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | May 8, 2023 |
| Tigress Financial | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Dec 23, 2021 |
| BMO Capital | Market Perform | Market Perform | Maintain | May 19, 2021 |
| Guggenheim | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Mar 17, 2021 |
| SVB Leerink | Market Perform | Market Perform | Maintain | Dec 14, 2020 |
| Citigroup | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 7, 2020 |
| SunTrust Robinson Humphrey | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Apr 13, 2020 |
| CFRA | Strong Buy | Strong Buy | Maintain | Feb 13, 2020 |
| Citi | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Nov 7, 2019 |
| Bank of America | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Sep 12, 2019 |
| Oppenheimer | Perform | Outperform | Downgrade | Apr 15, 2019 |
| Leerink Swann | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Feb 9, 2018 |
| Needham | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Nov 10, 2017 |
| Loop Capital | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Nov 7, 2017 |
| Cowen & Co. | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 10, 2015 |
| FBR Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Nov 5, 2014 |
| ISI Group | Strong Buy | Buy | Upgrade | Jan 22, 2014 |
| Macquarie | Outperform | Neutral | Upgrade | Dec 14, 2012 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $79.96. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leerink Partners | Analyst unavailable | $112 | $86.16 | +40.1% | Oct 12, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $112 | $93.04 | +40.1% | Sep 9, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $118 | $97.23 | +47.6% | Sep 3, 2026 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $114 | $95.58 | +42.6% | Aug 19, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Michael Ha | $107 | $96.96 | +33.8% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| UBS | Kevin Caliendo | $126 | $99.12 | +57.6% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $108 | $99.12 | +35.1% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $122 | $107.85 | +52.6% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | David MacDonald | $118 | $105.9 | +47.6% | Jul 14, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $123 | $104.15 | +53.8% | Jul 13, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $113 | $104.83 | +41.3% | Jul 9, 2026 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | Analyst unavailable | $110 | $102.08 | +37.6% | Jul 7, 2026 |
| HSBC | Analyst unavailable | $103 | $102.28 | +28.8% | Jul 6, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $115 | $95.93 | +43.8% | Jun 8, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $111 | $91.37 | +38.8% | Jun 4, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $108 | $90.98 | +35.1% | Jun 1, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Jessica Tassan | $113 | $90.98 | +41.3% | Jun 1, 2026 |
| Barclays | Andrew Mok | $106 | $91.63 | +32.6% | May 26, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $110 | $94.18 | +37.6% | May 20, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $106 | $97.85 | +32.6% | May 14, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Analyst unavailable | $106 | $95.15 | +32.6% | May 13, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $107 | $86.56 | +33.8% | May 7, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $92 | $87.46 | +15.1% | May 7, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $102 | $87.04 | +27.6% | May 7, 2026 |
| Barclays | Andrew Mok | $101 | $86.86 | +26.3% | May 7, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $94 | $77.62 | +17.6% | Apr 15, 2026 |
| Leerink Partners | Michael Cherny | $98 | $79.49 | +22.6% | Mar 5, 2026 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $90 | $73.2 | +12.6% | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Analyst unavailable | $91 | $80.56 | +13.8% | Jan 6, 2026 |
| Bernstein | Analyst unavailable | $87 | $80.84 | +8.8% | Dec 12, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Ann Hynes | $95 | $79.05 | +18.8% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $92 | $78.24 | +15.1% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Piper Sandler | Jessica Tassan | $101 | $78.24 | +26.3% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $93 | $78.24 | +16.3% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $93 | $78.24 | +16.3% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| UBS | Kevin Caliendo | $97 | $78.24 | +21.3% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $100 | $78.24 | +25.1% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Bernstein | Analyst unavailable | $86 | $76.75 | +7.6% | Dec 4, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $93 | $77.56 | +16.3% | Oct 30, 2025 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $96 | $81.07 | +20.1% | Oct 24, 2025 |
| Truist Financial | David MacDonald | $92 | $79.26 | +15.1% | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Erin Wright | $89 | $78.82 | +11.3% | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $91 | $78.44 | +13.8% | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Ann Hynes | $88 | $76.93 | +10.1% | Oct 9, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $103 | $76.84 | +28.8% | Oct 7, 2025 |
| Barclays | Andrew Mok | $87 | $73.32 | +8.8% | Sep 4, 2025 |
| UBS | Kevin Caliendo | $79 | $68.6 | -1.2% | Aug 18, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | Michael Ha | $82 | $66.58 | +2.6% | Aug 14, 2025 |
| Barclays | Andrew Mok | $79 | $63.6 | -1.2% | Jun 2, 2025 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $77 | $65.57 | -3.7% | Feb 18, 2025 |
| Deutsche Bank | George Hill | $66 | $59.08 | -17.5% | Dec 3, 2024 |
| Wells Fargo | Stephen Baxter | $66 | $57.11 | -17.5% | Nov 18, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Ann Hynes | $66 | $57.04 | -17.5% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Truist Financial | David MacDonald | $76 | $58.2 | -5.0% | Oct 21, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Jessica Tassan | $72 | $59.15 | -10.0% | Oct 21, 2024 |
| Barclays | Andrew Mok | $82 | $66.63 | +2.6% | Oct 10, 2024 |
| Deutsche Bank | George Hill | $63 | $57.85 | -21.2% | Aug 8, 2024 |
| J.P. Morgan | Lisa Gill | $86 | $58.58 | +7.6% | Jun 28, 2024 |
| Barclays | Andrew Mok | $65 | $61.01 | -18.7% | Jun 20, 2024 |
| RBC Capital | Anton Hie | $68 | $56.31 | -15.0% | May 2, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Jessica Tassan | $94 | $77.4 | +17.6% | Mar 15, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | Erin Wright | $100 | $73.76 | +25.1% | Dec 12, 2023 |
| Truist Financial | David Macdonald | $98 | $70.52 | +22.6% | Sep 13, 2023 |
| Wolfe Research | Justin Lake | $80 | $70.52 | +0.1% | Sep 12, 2023 |
| Truist Financial | David Macdonald | $103 | $71.27 | +28.8% | Jul 12, 2023 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $120 | $89.18 | +50.1% | Jan 13, 2023 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $101 | $92.91 | +26.3% | Jan 3, 2023 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $100 | $93.19 | +25.1% | Jan 3, 2023 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $119 | $100.22 | +48.8% | Nov 23, 2022 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $125 | $100.52 | +56.3% | Sep 7, 2022 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $120 | $106.39 | +50.1% | Aug 15, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | George Hill | $120 | $106.39 | +50.1% | Aug 14, 2022 |
| Credit Suisse | Analyst unavailable | $117 | $102.26 | +46.3% | Aug 8, 2022 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $127 | $103.14 | +58.8% | Aug 4, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $113 | $97.73 | +41.3% | May 5, 2022 |
| Tigress Financial | Ivan Feinseth | $125 | $104.45 | +56.3% | Apr 11, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | George Hill | $110 | $102.13 | +37.6% | Feb 21, 2022 |
| BMO Capital | Matt Borsch | $120 | $104.24 | +50.1% | Feb 13, 2022 |
| Goldman Sachs | Nathan Rich | $121 | $104.79 | +51.3% | Feb 9, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Ben Hendrix | $119 | $104.79 | +48.8% | Feb 9, 2022 |
| Jefferies | Brian Tanquilut | $120 | $102.39 | +50.1% | Jan 20, 2022 |
| Bank of America Securities | Michael Cherny | $117 | $106.22 | +46.3% | Jan 16, 2022 |
| Bernstein | Lance Wilkes | $116 | $105.48 | +45.1% | Jan 11, 2022 |
| Wells Fargo | Steve Baxter | $111 | $102.04 | +38.8% | Jan 6, 2022 |
| Truist Financial | David S Macdonald | $124 | $105.25 | +55.1% | Jan 5, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | Ricky Goldwasser | $125 | $98.37 | +56.3% | Dec 13, 2021 |
| Cowen & Co. | Charles Rhyee | $114 | $98.33 | +42.6% | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Credit Suisse | A.J. Rice | $120 | $98.33 | +50.1% | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Seaport Global | Joseph France | $110 | $88.31 | +37.6% | Dec 1, 2021 |
| UBS | Kevin Caliendo | $106 | $93.71 | +32.6% | Nov 11, 2021 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | Steven Halper | $115 | $95.83 | +43.8% | Nov 3, 2021 |
| Wolfe Research | Justin Lake | $93 | $87.69 | +16.3% | May 19, 2021 |
Track every rating change on CVS the moment it posts. Free to start.
Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationCVS Health Corp. is a health solutions company, which engages in the provision of healthcare services. It operates through the following segments: Health Care Benefits, Health Services, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, and Corporate and Other. The Health Care Benefits segment operates as a health care benefits provider. The Health Services segment offers a full range of PBM solutions, delivers health care services in its medical clinics, virtually, and in the home. The Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segment dispenses prescriptions in its retail pharmacies and through its infusion operations. The Corporate and Other Segment is involved in management and administrative expenses. The company was founded by Stanley P. Goldstein and Ralph Hoagland in 1963 and is headquartered in Woonsocket, RI.
Historical context
All CVS earningsHealthcare peers this season
Latest reports in the same sector| Company | Quarter | EPS surprise | Market move | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COR Cencora, Inc. | FY2026 Q4 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +4.0% | Cencora leans on specialty growth as FY2027 expansion requires investment |
| PODD Insulet Corp. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +6.6% | Insulet raises 2026 growth outlook as customer base and international sales expand |
| RPRX Royalty Pharma plc | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +1.4% | Royalty Pharma Raises Guidance as Receipts and Co-Funding Expand |
| ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +14.6% | Zimmer Biomet raises 2026 outlook as hip and technology growth offset knee weakness |
| MDLN Medline Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +16.2% | Medline Raises 2026 Organic Sales Outlook on 10% Q3 Growth |
| NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +6.4% | Novo Nordisk Q3: obesity demand supports growth, pricing and LOE remain risks |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- UNMAFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026+1.9% EPS+0.5% move
- UNMFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026+1.9% EPS-17.8% move
- IFFFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026+2.1% EPS-4.9% move
- JKHYFY2027 Q1 · November 3, 2026+10.1% EPS+10.8% move
- HL-PBFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026+54.0% EPS— move
- SUFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026+20.9% EPS-4.5% move
Missed on EPS
- OHIFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026-42.5% EPS+3.5% move
- MOSFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026-1656.0% EPS+17.4% move
- OVVFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026-2.0% EPS-5.1% move
- BSACFY2026 Q3 · October 30, 2026-20.0% EPS-3.0% move
- TXFY2026 Q3 · November 3, 2026-24.9% EPS-0.0% move
- CHTFY2026 Q3 · November 4, 2026-55.7% EPS+0.9% move
Get the CVS recap when the next report posts
One email per quarter with the scorecard, the market reaction and what changed on the call. No account needed.
Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-11-04T17:10:33.364203+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-11-04T01:23:13.345574+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-11-05T00:30:49.942297+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-11-05T00:30:49.939591+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-11-05. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.