UPDATE: Aetna Posts In-Line Q4 Earnings, Lifts Outlook

reported in-line earnings for the fourth quarter and raised its full-year forecast. The Hartford, Connecticut-based company posted quarterly earnings of $232 million, or $0.65 per share, compared to $368.9 million, or $1 per share, in the year-ago period. On an adjusted basis, the company's earnings slipped to $1.22 per share from $1.45 per share. Its revenue climbed 12% to $14.77 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $1.22 per share on revenue of $14.58 billion. Operating earnings for Health Care business fell to $447.6 million from $534.6 million, while Group Insurance business operating earnings slipped to $21.3 million from $47.9 million. Large Case Pensions business operating earnings rose to $5.6 million from $5.0 million. For 2015, Aetna now projects operating earnings of least $7 per share, compared to earlier forecast of $6.90 per share. “Aetna achieved record annual operating revenue and operating earnings in 2014, and delivered full-year operating earnings per share at the high end of our most recent projection,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman and CEO. “Our 2014 operating earnings-per-share results represent an increase of more than 7 percent over 2013 and a compound annualized growth rate of 15 percent since 2010. We also ended the year serving more than 23.5 million medical members, an increase of approximately 1.4 million members from 2013.” Aetna shares rose 0.44% to close at $92.22 yesterday.