Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH) has seen its price target lowered from $180.00 to $144.00 by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald, according to a research note released on Monday. The brokerage firm has assigned a “neutral” rating to the stock, which indicates a potential upside of 9.27% based on the company’s previous closing price.
Several other research firms have also recently provided updates regarding Molina Healthcare. Notably, on January 6, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating with a price target of $224.00. On October 24, UBS Group adjusted their price target from $180.00 to $170.00, maintaining a “neutral” rating. In the same report, Truist Financial set a target price of $175.00, while Morgan Stanley established a target of $158.00. Additionally, on January 22, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d+)” rating on the stock. Currently, three analysts have rated Molina with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating, and two have given a Sell rating.
According to data from MarketBeat.com, Molina Healthcare holds an average rating of “Hold” with a consensus target price of $180.07.
Financial Performance and Earnings Miss
Molina Healthcare reported its quarterly earnings on February 5, revealing a significant miss in expected earnings. The company posted an earnings per share (EPS) of ($2.75), falling short of analysts’ expectations of $0.43 by $3.18. Despite this setback, Molina achieved revenues of $11.38 billion for the quarter, surpassing forecasts of $10.90 billion. The firm’s net margin stood at 1.04%, and its return on equity was 13.60%.
Molina’s revenue increased by 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year when the company reported an EPS of $5.05. For the fiscal year 2026, the company has set its EPS guidance at 5.000, with analysts predicting an average EPS of 24.4 for the current year.
Insider Transactions and Institutional Activity
In related news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 357 shares of Molina Healthcare stock on November 24 at an average price of $143.02, resulting in a total transaction value of $51,058.14. Following this sale, Schapiro retains 11,352 shares valued at approximately $1,623,563.04, marking a 3.05% decrease in ownership. This transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Institutional investors have also been active regarding Molina Healthcare. Notably, Torren Management LLC acquired a new position valued at approximately $26,000 during the fourth quarter, while Miller Global Investments LLC invested around $27,000. Cromwell Holdings LLC increased its stake by 211.9%, now owning 184 shares worth $32,000 after buying additional shares. First Horizon Advisors Inc. saw a staggering increase of 2,140.0% in its stake, acquiring 112 shares valued at $33,000.
Currently, institutional investors hold a substantial 98.50% of Molina Healthcare’s stock.
As a managed care company, Molina Healthcare specializes in government-sponsored health insurance programs, offering Medicaid managed care plans, Medicare Advantage, and individual Marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act. The firm focuses on preventive and primary care services, care coordination, and disease management to enhance health outcomes for its members.
