The Cigna Group shares tumbled 5.03% in pre-market trading on Thursday, as investors reacted to the company's second-quarter earnings release. While the health insurer surpassed Wall Street expectations for both profit and revenue, the full-year guidance failed to excite, triggering a sharp sell-off.
Cigna reported adjusted earnings of $7.78 per share, beating the analyst consensus of $7.60. Revenue rose nearly 7% to $71.67 billion, also ahead of estimates. The growth was driven by strength in its Evernorth Health Services unit, which includes the pharmacy benefit management business, where revenue climbed 6% to $61.47 billion. However, the company raised its 2026 adjusted profit forecast to at least $30.45 per share, representing only a 10-cent increase from its prior outlook and merely matching the FactSet consensus of $30.45. The lack of an upside surprise in guidance prompted profit-taking, especially after the stock had rallied 3.26% in the prior session ahead of the earnings release.
Adding to investor caution, Cigna's medical care ratio—the percentage of premiums spent on medical costs—rose to 84.5% from 83.2% a year earlier. The company also faces strategic uncertainty as it plans to exit the individual ACA exchange business by year-end. Analysts noted that while the quarterly results were solid, the market was looking for a stronger growth catalyst, and the in-line guidance was not enough to sustain the recent gains.