{"id":439027,"date":"2021-01-07T04:50:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T09:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/?p=439027"},"modified":"2020-12-08T21:11:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T02:11:55","slug":"anthem-stock-vs-cigna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/investing\/anthem-stock-vs-cigna","title":{"rendered":"Anthem Stock Vs Cigna: Which Is Best?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anthem Stock Vs Cigna:<\/em> In mid-2015, Anthem and Cigna had nothing but good things to say about each other – at least in public. Anthem planned to acquire Cigna in a $47 billion deal<\/a> <\/strong>that would have created a massive enterprise. <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the merger met with disapproval from the Justice Department<\/a>, and the deal failed in 2017. That prompted years of legal battles in which each company blamed the other for related financial losses. <\/span><\/p>\n

In August of 2020, the most recent case came to a close. Neither company prevailed. Cigna was not awarded the $15 billion it said Anthem owed for termination fees and damages, and Anthem was not awarded the $21 billion it said Cigna owed for failing to fight the Justice Department\u2019s ruling. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With that bit of drama in the past – for now – management and shareholders can turn their attention to current events. <\/span><\/p>\n

What Now For Anthem and Cigna?<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s a good thing, because the health insurance industry as a whole is under pressure from every direction. Developing a strong strategic plan is a must amid such uncertainty. <\/span><\/p>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has put insurers in the position of covering hefty bills associated with emergency intensive care. Meanwhile, years of political turmoil in the US have created an environment in which healthcare policy decisions can\u2019t be relied upon to remain static from one year to the next. <\/span><\/p>\n

Anthem, Cigna, and others in the industry are struggling to stay one step ahead while still protecting profits and patients. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Investors know that healthcare is a promising area from a profit perspective, but pinpointing which company is least likely to run into regulatory or public relations trouble is a tough call. In a matchup between two industry leaders, the question is: Anthem stock vs Cigna – which is best?<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Anthem Stock A Buy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Anthem is a leading commercial health benefits company. It uses a network-based model with plans designed for individuals and employers of all sizes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Anthem participates in Medicaid and Medicare, and it serves roughly 107 million people. It has more than 43 million<\/a> members in its health plans. <\/span><\/p>\n