CVS Health, the retail pharmacy giant, has provided promising revenue guidance for fiscal year 2024, surpassing analysts’ estimates. The company anticipates earnings of $8.50 per share on revenue amounting to $366 billion, compared to the projected $8.51 earnings per share on revenue of $344.5 billion forecasted by FactSet analysts.
Additionally, CVS has raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to 66.5 cents per share. Shareholders will receive this dividend payment on February 1st if they are listed as shareholders on January 22nd.
The optimistic revenue forecast and dividend increase coincide with CVS’s announcement of enhancements to its pharmacy business. One notable improvement is the implementation of CVS CostVantage, an updated model for pharmacy reimbursements. This modification aims to streamline the process and provide greater transparency in cost management. Another development is TrueCost, a system designed to simplify pricing for prescription drugs. Both initiatives are scheduled for launch in 2025.
In response to these positive developments, CVS stock experienced a 2.7% increase during Tuesday’s trading session, reaching $70.32. However, it is important to note that the stock has encountered a 27% decline over the course of this year.