Boosted by Low Utilization, Humana Posts Robust Earnings for Second Quarter of 2022

Humana Inc. delivered robust financial results in the second quarter of 2020, with earnings far outstripping the Wall Street consensus. The Medicare Advantage-focused insurer credited lower-than-expected utilization for the strong result, provided investors with more detail about its plans to reorganize following several notable provider transactions, and touted plans to expand its Medicaid business. 

Humana took in more than $23.7 billion in adjusted earnings in the second quarter, generating $959 million in adjusted cash flow and adjusted earnings per share of $8.67, beating the Street’s estimate by about $1.00 per share. The firm’s medical loss ratio (MLR) for the quarter was 85.8%. Executives raised the company’s end-of-year earnings projection by $0.25, a move that Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Michael Wiederhorn said “reflect[s] some conservatism” in a July 27 note to investors.