Humana Beats Earnings Estimates (HUM)

Louisville, Kentucky based health and supplemental benefit plan company Humana Inc. HUM released financial results on Monday morning that beat Wall Street earnings estimates. Humana Inc announced that its 3rd quarter earnings rose to $2.32 per share, up from $1.78 per share a year earlier. Excluding special items, the company earned $2.01 per share. The company's revenue climbed 9% to $8.42 billion, up from $7.72 billion a year earlier. According to a poll of analysts by Thomson Reuters, the average Wall Street estimate called for earnings of $1.66 per share, on revenue of $8.46 billion. Humana Inc. (HUM) finished the previous trading day at $58.29 per share. The consensus price target of analysts covering the company's stock is $57.92 per share. Chairman and chief executive officer Michael B. McCallister said, “Our third-quarter results showed strong operating performance in both our Government and Commercial segments. With the success of our one-to-one retail approach to membership growth solidly aligned with the continued expansion of Medicare and potential retail opportunities in the individual market, Humana faces the post-reform future with confidence.” The company raised its 2010 EPS guidance to a range of $6.40 to $6.50. Read more from Benzinga's Company news.