CVS Health Corporation (CVS)
CVS Health is a massive American healthcare giant that combines a nationwide chain of pharmacies with health insurance and medical services.
Is CVS Health Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: CVS Health is a massive American healthcare giant that combines a nationwide chain of pharmacies with health insurance and medical services.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in the integrated healthcare model
Major regulatory changes to US healthcare
What does CVS Health Corporation do?
CVS is essentially a one-stop shop for health, running thousands of local pharmacies while also owning Aetna, a major insurance provider. Income arrives from selling medicines and retail goods, as well as managing health insurance plans for millions of people. What really matters is how they balance these different parts of the business to keep profits steady in a changing healthcare market.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and value, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.5% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 6% over the year
- !Thin profits - turns only about 1% of sales into profit
- !High P/E of 46 - big growth is already priced in
- Value screens high (70/100)
- Momentum screens high (84/100)
- Massive scale and brand recognition across the US
- Diversified income from both retail and insurance
- Essential services that people need regardless of the economy
- Quality screens low (19/100)
- Potential for government regulation to cap drug prices
- Intense competition from online retailers and other pharmacy chains
- Rising medical costs impacting insurance profitability
What do CVS Health Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does CVS Health Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does CVS Health Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - CVS Health Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 2.5% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does CVS Health Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
CVS Health Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-05 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-06 | $2.21 | $2.57 | Beat +16% |
| 2026-02-10 | $1.00 | $1.09 | Beat +9% |
| 2025-10-29 | $1.36 | $1.60 | Beat +18% |
| 2025-07-31 | $1.46 | $1.81 | Beat +24% |
| 2025-05-01 | $1.67 | $2.25 | Beat +34% |
| 2025-02-12 | $0.92 | $1.19 | Beat +30% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, CVS Health Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.What are the scenarios for CVS Health Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of CVS Health Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Massive scale and brand recognition across the US
- Diversified income from both retail and insurance
- Essential services that people need regardless of the economy
- Very thin profit margins make it sensitive to rising costs
- High complexity in managing different business units
- Heavy reliance on the US healthcare system
- Potential for government regulation to cap drug prices
- Intense competition from online retailers and other pharmacy chains
- Rising medical costs impacting insurance profitability
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major change in US healthcare legislation
- A significant drop in insurance membership numbers
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.