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CVS vs ELV
Which Stock Would AI Choose? CVS Health (CVS) vs. Elevance Health (ELV) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Different business models: CVS is a vertically integrated healthcare conglomerate (retail pharmacy, insurer Aetna, and pharmacy benefit manager Caremark), while ELV is a pure-play health insurer anchored in Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and its Carelon services arm.
- Momentum divergence: ELV has delivered stronger recent relative performance, while CVS trades well below its 52-week high despite improving earnings.
- Earnings inflection: CVS has been beating estimates and raising guidance, but investors remain focused on Medicare Advantage star-rating declines; ELV is executing a Medicare Advantage turnaround while managing Medicaid margin pressure.
- Valuation gap: CVS trades near roughly 11 times forward earnings with a dividend yield above the sector, while ELV carries a higher multiple reflecting steadier insurance earnings.
- Regulatory exposure: CVS faces direct scrutiny of its PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) and retail pharmacy structure, a risk ELV experiences more moderately.
Introduction
Investors weighing healthcare exposure frequently compare CVS and ELV, two of the largest names in U.S. healthcare services whose stock-price trajectories have diverged in recent market activity. This stock comparison is especially relevant for traders and investors seeking to understand relative performance, market positioning, and the distinct drivers behind each company's valuation. CVS Health represents a diversified healthcare-and-retail model, while Elevance Health is a concentrated managed-care franchise. Their contrasting risk profiles—turnaround execution versus margin recovery—make them a useful pairing for evaluating how sentiment, catalysts, and regulatory dynamics shape returns across the healthcare sector.
CVS Overview and Recent Performance
CVS Health operates three interconnected segments: a national retail pharmacy network, the Aetna health insurance business, and Caremark, one of the largest PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers that negotiate drug pricing and manage prescription benefits). Recent weeks have shown a company executing an operational recovery while its share price lags behind that progress. In its most recent quarterly report, CVS posted revenue above $106 billion and adjusted EPS (earnings per share) of $2.58, well ahead of consensus, while its medical benefit ratio—the share of premiums paid out in claims—improved meaningfully year over year. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance and signaled sharply higher operating cash flow.
Despite these beats, sentiment has been weighed down by the 2027 Medicare Advantage star-rating release, which showed a decline in the share of Aetna members in four-star-or-better plans. Analysts estimate this could reduce future earnings as government bonus payments shrink. Additional overhangs include a Department of Justice settlement, a Federal Trade Commission agreement on insulin pricing, and state-level proposals targeting PBM-pharmacy ownership. The stock has pulled back from its 52-week high and trades at a discounted multiple relative to peers, reflecting lingering skepticism about the durability of the recovery.
ELV Overview and Recent Performance
Elevance Health is one of the nation's largest health insurers, operating Blue Cross Blue Shield plans across multiple states alongside Carelon, its growing pharmacy and health-services division. Recent market activity has favored the company as its Medicare Advantage business rebuilds on tighter plan design and disciplined pricing. In its latest reported quarter, Elevance delivered revenue of roughly $49.5 billion and adjusted EPS of $12.58, exceeding expectations, and it raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance while signaling a return to double-digit earnings growth in 2027.
The company's primary challenge is Medicaid, where elevated utilization and reimbursement pressure have pushed that segment's operating margin negative. Management has framed the current period as the trough, citing better-than-expected rate updates and plans to exit unprofitable state markets. Meanwhile, Carelon continues to scale risk-based services, providing diversification beyond premium-driven revenue. Elevance has delivered strong gains over the past six months but has cooled more recently, with the stock trading below its 52-week high as investors weigh the pace of Medicaid margin recovery against improving Medicare Advantage profitability.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The clearest contrast between the two companies is structural. CVS is a diversified conglomerate whose earnings depend on pharmacy reimbursements, insurance underwriting, and retail foot traffic, whereas ELV derives most of its profitability from insurance premiums and fee-based services. This difference shapes both growth drivers and risk factors. CVS's path forward hinges on stabilizing Aetna margins, defending its PBM economics against regulatory pressure, and revitalizing its retail footprint. Elevance's outlook depends more narrowly on restoring Medicaid margins, sustaining Medicare Advantage gains, and scaling Carelon.
In terms of recent momentum, ELV has shown greater relative strength, while CVS's share price reflects a wider gap between improving fundamentals and cautious sentiment. Valuation underscores the trade-off: CVS offers a lower multiple and higher dividend yield, compensating for greater regulatory and execution uncertainty; ELV commands a premium multiple for what the market views as steadier, higher-margin insurance cash flows. Sector exposure also differs—CVS carries direct retail and drug-distribution sensitivity, while Elevance is more exposed to Medicaid policy and state rate-setting. Ultimately, the choice contrasts a contrarian, turnaround-oriented setup against a premium-priced margin-recovery story.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors, Tickeron's AI would likely favor ELV in the current environment, though with an emphasis on probability rather than certainty. Elevance exhibits more consistent trend behavior, steadier insurance earnings, and clearer near-term catalysts in its Medicare Advantage rebuild and expected 2027 earnings acceleration. CVS, by contrast, presents a stronger valuation case but carries greater headline and regulatory risk, with its recent gains offset by Medicare Advantage ratings headwinds and ongoing legal settlements. A trend-following model would tend to reward Elevance's relative stability and improving guidance trajectory, while flagging CVS as a higher-volatility, value-oriented candidate whose recovery is real but not yet fully confirmed by price action.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CVS is a Hold and ELV is a Hold.
CVS in upward trend: price rose above 50-day moving average on October 15, 2026
CVS moved above its 50-day moving average on October 15, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend. In 36 of 51 similar past instances, the stock price increased further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 71%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 13, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on CVS as a result. In 59 of 88 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for CVS just turned positive on October 06, 2026. Looking at past instances where CVS's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 32 of 50 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 64%.
Following a +2.59% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where CVS advanced for three days, in 228 of 342 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for CVS moved out of overbought territory on October 21, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 36 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 22 of the 36 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 61%.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 6 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where CVS declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 61%.
CVS broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 20, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for CVS entered a downward trend on October 12, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 21 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: CVS's P/B Ratio (1.500) is slightly lower than the industry average of (3.582). P/E Ratio (24.463) is within average values for comparable stocks, (130.390). CVS's Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.206) is slightly lower than the industry average of (0.786). CVS has a moderately high Dividend Yield (0.028) as compared to the industry average of (0.009). P/S Ratio (0.283) is also within normal values, averaging (0.569).
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 33 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 45 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating fairly steady price growth. CVS’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 71 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. CVS’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 82, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 81 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating weak sales and an unprofitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
ELV in upward trend: price rose above 50-day moving average on October 06, 2026
ELV moved above its 50-day moving average on October 06, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend. In 39 of 55 similar past instances, the stock price increased further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 71%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 07, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on ELV as a result. In 65 of 97 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for ELV just turned positive on October 09, 2026. Looking at past instances where ELV's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 32 of 50 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 64%.
The 10-day moving average for ELV crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 13, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 9 of 15 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 60%.
Following a +2.78% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where ELV advanced for three days, in 182 of 321 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 57%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The RSI Oscillator demonstrated that the stock has entered the overbought zone. This may point to a price pull-back soon.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 11 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where ELV declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 56%.
ELV broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 09, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for ELV entered a downward trend on October 12, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 14 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 16 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating outstanding price growth. ELV’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 65 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (2.098) is normal, around the industry mean (3.582). P/E Ratio (19.150) is within average values for comparable stocks, (130.390). ELV's Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.291) is slightly higher than the industry average of (0.786). Dividend Yield (0.016) settles around the average of (0.009) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (0.453) is also within normal values, averaging (0.569).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 77 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. ELV’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 82, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 99 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating weak sales and an unprofitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
CVS | ELV | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 25 | 28 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 21 Undervalued | 65 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 71 | 77 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 81 | 99 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 16 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 33 | 14 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 85 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
CVS's Valuation (21) in the Drugstore Chains industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ELV (65) in the Managed Health Care industry. This means that CVS’s stock grew somewhat faster than ELV’s over the last 12 months.
CVS's Profit vs Risk Rating (71) in the Drugstore Chains industry is in the same range as ELV (77) in the Managed Health Care industry. This means that CVS’s stock grew similarly to ELV’s over the last 12 months.
CVS's SMR Rating (81) in the Drugstore Chains industry is in the same range as ELV (99) in the Managed Health Care industry. This means that CVS’s stock grew similarly to ELV’s over the last 12 months.
ELV's Price Growth Rating (16) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as CVS (45) in the Drugstore Chains industry. This means that ELV’s stock grew similarly to CVS’s over the last 12 months.
ELV's P/E Growth Rating (14) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as CVS (33) in the Drugstore Chains industry. This means that ELV’s stock grew similarly to CVS’s over the last 12 months.
| CVS | ELV | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 61% | 1 day ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 65% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 64% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 60% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 54% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 67% | 3 days ago 57% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 61% | 22 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 68% | 1 day ago 70% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 51% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CVS’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green while ELV’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- CVS’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- ELV’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CVS’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ELV’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CVS’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- ELV’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
CVS (@Managed Health Care) experienced а +3.39% price change this week, while ELV (@Managed Health Care) price change was +3.93% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Managed Health Care industry was +2.42%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +10.34%, and the average quarterly price growth was +42.86%.
Reported Earning Dates
CVS is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
ELV is expected to report earnings on Jan 27, 2027.
Industries' Descriptions
@Managed Health Care (+2.42% weekly)Managed healthcare industry focuses on providing health/medical and disability insurance plans, generally intended to reduce the cost of for-profit health care. The insurance products might be provided through employer-paid (fully or partly) insurance and benefit programs, or through Medicare/Medicaid. Some of the largest providers of managed health care include Aetna, Humana Inc., and Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.
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CVS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CVS has been loosely correlated with UNH. These tickers have moved in lockstep 65% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if CVS jumps, then UNH could also see price increases.