Rite Aid

Life is a heart-shaped box of chocolates for CenturyLink, Rite Aid, and GameStop, but the sweets are all hollow. […]

Shares of CVS Health (CVS) have popped 4% in the last month and jumped 1.16% during regular trading Wednesday. But does this signal that investors expect good things from the pharmacy power's Q4 financial results that are due out before the opening bell on February 20? […]

The case for insurer UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) seems almost too easy to make. UNH stock already has been one of the best performers in the market, rising 270% over the past five years. Earnings are expected to grow about 13% in 2019. Yet UnitedHealth stock trades at a seemingly attractive 18x multiple to this year's EPS guidance.With a 10% pullback from early December highs, a cheaper price seems to set up an attractive opportunity. UNH's recent performance and huge earnings growth speak well of management. The company's Optum unit is cutting-edge, and growing revenue while expanding margins. With $226 billion in revenue, meanwhile, UnitedHealth has the scale to serve customers and the size to pressure suppliers.All else equal, I'd expect UnitedHealth stock to keep climbing. Indeed, I recommended UNH a year ago, and even ~15% higher, I'm still bullish. But there are risks here, highlighted by near-term trading in UnitedHealth stock. And investors need to understand those risks before proceeding.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 9 U.S. Stocks That Are Coming to Life Again The Case for UnitedHealth StockThis simply seems like a good business. Growth has been phenomenal. The midpoint of 2019 EPS guidance of $14.40-$14.70 suggests a 155% increase from 2014 levels.Obviously, a lower tax rate and acquisitions have provided some outside help. But this is a company operating well, with revenue and margins both rising.UNH has a diversified portfolio, too. It has its hands in seemingly every market, with the insurer serving employers, individuals, Medicare, and state and local governments. The Global segment, built through targeted M&A, is now a $10 billion-plus revenue business.And Optum is at the forefront of changes in the industry. 2018 revenue rose double-digits, and operating margins continued to expand. Other PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) are struggling. Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD) unit EnvisionRx has disappointed. Express Scripts managed to sell itself to Cigna (NYSE:CI), but at only a modest premium to 2015 highs. In that context, Optum's performance is even more impressive.This seems simply like a very attractive business. It's the largest health insurer in the world. Optum remains a roaring success. And yet UNH stock isn't that expensive, trading at less than 18x the midpoint of FY19 EPS guidance.Double-digit annual EPS growth, a 1.4% dividend and potentially a higher multiple over time mean UnitedHealth could return 10%+ annually for years to come. The Two Key Risks to UNH StockThere are two key risks, however. The first is that competitors are trying to gain scale themselves and expand their reach. Cigna bought out Express Scripts. CVS (NYSE:CVS) acquired Aetna. Rivals are coming after UnitedHealth's market lead.To be fair, larger mergers haven't played out. Cigna and Anthem (NYSE:ANTM) planned to merge back in 2017, but called it off. Aetna and Humana (NYSE:HUM) did the same. But competitors are trying to copy at least some of UnitedHealth's strategy, and their success could make them more formidable foes.The bigger risk is on the political front. UNH stock has struggled in recent sessions after the Trump Administration announced a plan to end drug rebates (which benefit PBMs like Optum). An apparently ham-handed response from Optum, which asked for 21 month's notice of any changes from drug manufacturers, brought some unwanted publicity, and framed Optum as potentially part of the problem - not the solution.From a long term standpoint, UnitedHealth almost certainly can adapt to any changes. But with net margins only just above 5%, even modest pressure on pricing, reimbursements, or other areas of the business can have a big impact on overall profits. And in the short-term, noise around regulatory changes could impact UnitedHealth stock, as appears to have been the case of late. A Matter of TrustAt these levels, at least some of the risks are priced in. And I'd be loath to put too much faith in the federal government, in particular, doing anything to notably change the healthcare model in the U.S.But that could change. A scenario where a Democratic candidate wins the Presidency in 2020 and is backed by a Democratic Congress is far from impossible. Should such a scenario seem plausible next year, UNH stock could start pricing in that risk.Right now, 18x earnings might seem cheap but it's not hard to picture UNH trading at 13-14x (or even worse) if investors believe regulators are coming for the company's margins.The changing political landscape and UnitedHealth's exposure to that landscape, mean this isn't a set-it-and-forget-it stock. Investors need to understand the risks and be willing to be nimble if political risk, in particular, starts to creep up.In the meantime, however, the pullback in UNH stock makes an attractive business available at an enviable price. And that's enough to make UNH a buy - at least for now.As of this writing, Vince Martin has no positions in any securities mentioned. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * The 7 Best Video Game Stocks to Power Up Your Portfolio! * 7 Forever Stocks to Buy for Long-Term Gains * 5 Self-Driving Car Stocks to Buy Compare Brokers The post UnitedHealth Stock Is a Buy, but Keep an Eye on the External Risks appeared first on InvestorPlace. […]

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, cupids everywhere can make a quick and easy trip to Rite Aid for lovely deals on a broad selection of gifts for Valentines of all ages. From sweet treats and the perfect card to alluring fragrances and the cutest plush animals, Rite Aid has all last-minute shoppers covered this Valentine’s Day. Bring a smile to your Valentine’s face by choosing from a wide assortment of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate in all sizes from favorites like Dove, Ferrero Rocher, Russell Stover, Whitman's and more. […]

Rite Aid Corp NYSE:RADView full report here! Summary * Perception of the company's creditworthiness is negative * ETFs holding this stock have seen outflows over the last one-month * Bearish sentiment is moderate Bearish sentimentShort interest | NeutralShort interest is moderately high for RAD with between 10 and 15% of shares outstanding currently on loan. The last change in the short interest score occurred more than 1 month ago and implies that there has been little change in sentiment among investors who seek to profit from falling equity prices. Money flowETF/Index ownership | NegativeETF activity is negative. Over the last one-month, outflows of investor capital in ETFs holding RAD totaled $7.02 billion. Additionally, the rate of outflows appears to be accelerating. Economic sentimentPMI by IHS Markit | NeutralAccording to the latest IHS Markit Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, output in the Consumer Services sector is rising. The rate of growth is weak relative to the trend shown over the past year, however. Credit worthinessCredit default swap | NegativeThe current level displays a negative indicator. RAD credit default swap spreads are near their highest levels for the past 1 year, which indicates the market's more negative perception of the company's credit worthiness.Please send all inquiries related to the report to score@ihsmarkit.com.Charts and report PDFs will only be available for 30 days after publishing.This document has been produced for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon or as construed as investment advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, IHS Markit disclaims any responsibility or liability, whether in contract, tort (including, without limitation, negligence), equity or otherwise, for any loss or damage arising from any reliance on or the use of this material in any way. Please view the full legal disclaimer and methodology information on pages 2-3 of the full report. […]