** CVS Health CVS.N raised its full-year profit forecast on Thursday after beating Wall Street's quarterly earning estimates as tight oversight of higher medical costs improved performance of its Aetna health insurance business

** Rivals including UnitedHealth UNH.N, Elevance ELV.N and Centene CNC.N have warned of higher-than-expected medical costs in the second-quarter.

** 20 out of 29 analysts rate stock as buy or higher, 9 hold; Median PT is $80 - LSEG

CVS HEALTH ON THE RIGHT TRACK

** Evercore ISI ("outperform," PT: $85) says CVS is moving with clearer operational focus and sharper discipline under new management

** Leerink Partners ("outperform," PT: $86) says majority of the moving parts in the health care benefits segment are on the right track

** "We continue to see more tailwinds than headwinds" - brokerage

** Morningstar (fair value: $92) says CVS's profit forecast raise sets it apart from peers like CNC, ELV and UNH that cut 2025 guidance after weak results

** TD Cowen ("buy," PT: $95) says they believe second-half guidance still has room for upside

(Reporting by Twesha Dikshit)

((Twesha.Dikshit@thomsonreuters.com))