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Impact of Medicaid changes on Shasta County subject of town hall meeting

Impact of Medicaid changes on Shasta County subject of town hall meeting

Yahoo28-06-2025
What could be ahead for health care in Shasta County should federal legislation proposing changes to Medicaid be approved will be the topic of a community meeting scheduled to take place on Monday.
The informational meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 30 at the Shasta Community Health Center, located at 1035 Placer St. in Redding.
The League of Women Voters of the Redding Area and Shasta Community Health Center are sponsoring the event, said organizer Susan Morris Wilson, president of the league's board of directors.
"They are still working on, and there's obviously at the national level, some disagreement about what should go into Medicaid and what should not. So we thought this would be a good time to try to make people aware of what it could do to Shasta County," Wilson said about the federal budget cut proposal.
More: No Medicaid cuts for Redding, Shasta County right now. But health care execs are worried
"As the federal government (makes) changes, so changes the California budget on Medicaid," she said.
There will be in-person seating for about 100 people and the event will also be live streamed, organizers said.
Two speakers are scheduled to address the meeting.
Shasta Community Health Center CEO Brandon Thornock will speak about Medicaid.
Another local health care expert, Shasta Regional Medical Center CEO Sam Itani, will address the issue of how rural hospitals could be impacted by changes in Medicaid, said Wilson.
Both California and the federal government share Medicaid's costs.
Members of the audience will also be able to ask questions about Medicaid, the program providing health care services to low-income and some disabled people.
In Shasta County, Partnership HealthPlan of California enrolls 66,000 individuals, or approximately 37% of the population.
Partnership, a nonprofit with a massive presence in the North State, manages benefits for Medi-Cal, the program that administers Medicaid benefits in California.
Wilson said Monday's forum will also be livestreamed at these links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1217296189674186/
Microsoft Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZmE1MGE3YmYtN2YxYy00YjhjLTg1MzQtZjk4NTkxMDYxNGVh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22f63a2b11-33f0-4ae6-b4d5-3747dadf3500%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2291428789-d61c-42aa-bd96-62a3b4915738%22%7d
Michele Chandler covers public safety, dining and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom's commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Top Shasta health care execs will answer questions about Medicaid cuts
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NeueHealth Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
NeueHealth Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

Business Wire

timea few seconds ago

  • Business Wire

NeueHealth Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

DORAL, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NeueHealth, Inc. ('NeueHealth' or the 'Company') (NYSE: NEUE), the value-driven healthcare company, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2025. 'We are pleased to report another strong quarter of financial results as we continue to build on the momentum we have established across our business this year,' said Mike Mikan, President and CEO of NeueHealth. 'We delivered our sixth consecutive quarter of Adjusted EBITDA profitability, and we are continuing to see strong performance across product categories, including the ACA Marketplace, Medicare, and Medicaid. In the second quarter and beyond, we are focused on advancing our end-to-end, value-based care enablement platform that will power the future of our company, supporting clinical, financial, and administrative functions to create a more aligned and coordinated care experience for all.' Key Metrics Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ($ in thousands) June 30, June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Financial Metrics Revenue $ 209,082 $ 225,991 $ 424,869 $ 471,086 Net Loss $ (1,548 ) $ (57,698 ) $ (12,396 ) $ (61,875 ) Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ 6,838 $ (39,259 ) $ 5,400 $ (33,571 ) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ 19,020 $ 3,962 $ 32,499 $ 7,618 Expand See the table at the end of this release for additional information and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures used in the table above. See table at the end of this release for more detail. Earnings Conference Call As previously announced, NeueHealth will discuss the Company's results, strategy, and outlook on a conference call with investors at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. NeueHealth will host a live webcast of this conference call which can be accessed from the Investor Relations page of the Company's website ( Following the call, a webcast replay will be available on the same site. This earnings release and the Form 8-K filed August 7, 2025 can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website. We routinely post important information on our website, including corporate and investor presentations and financial information. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of our website. Accordingly, investors should monitor this portion of our website, in addition to following our press releases, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') filings and public conference calls and webcasts. About NeueHealth NeueHealth is a value-driven healthcare company grounded in the belief that all health consumers are entitled to high-quality, coordinated care. By uniquely aligning the interests of health consumers, providers, and payors, NeueHealth helps to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all populations across the ACA Marketplace, Medicare, and Medicaid. NeueHealth delivers high-quality clinical care to over 600,000 health consumers through owned clinics and unique partnerships with over 3,000 affiliated providers. We also enable independent providers and medical groups to thrive in performance-based arrangements through a suite of technology and services scaled centrally and deployed locally. We believe our value-driven, consumer-centric care model can transform the healthcare experience and maximize value across the healthcare system. For more information, visit: Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies, as well as statements regarding timing, completion, and effects of the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the 'Merger Agreement') entered into by the Company with NH Holdings 2025, Inc. ('Parent') on December 23, 2024 pursuant to which, if all applicable conditions are satisfied or waived, the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the 'Transaction'). Parent is indirectly controlled by private investment funds affiliated with New Enterprise Associates, Inc. ('NEA'). These statements often include words such as 'anticipate,' 'expect,' 'plan,' 'believe,' 'intend,' 'project,' 'forecast,' 'estimates,' 'projections,' 'outlook,' 'ensure,' and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include any statements regarding our plans and expectations. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Factors that might materially affect such forward-looking statements include: the failure to complete the Transaction on the anticipated terms and within the anticipated timeframe, including as a result of failure to obtain required stockholder or regulatory approvals or to satisfy other closing conditions; potential litigation relating to the Transaction that could be instituted against NEA, the Company or their respective affiliates, directors, managers, officers or employees, and the effects of any outcomes related thereto; potential adverse reactions or changes to our business relationships or operating results resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the Transaction; the risk that our stock price may decline significantly if the Transaction is not consummated; certain restrictions during the pendency of the Transaction that may impact our ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; costs associated with the Transaction, which may be significant; the occurrence of events, changes or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including in circumstances requiring us to pay a termination fee; our ability to continue as a going concern; expectations and outcomes related to the Merger Agreement; our ability to comply with the terms of our credit facilities or any credit facility into which we enter in the future; our ability to obtain any short or long term debt or equity financing needed to operate our business; our ability to quickly and efficiently complete the wind down of our remaining Individual and Family Plan ('IFP') businesses and MA businesses outside of California, including by satisfying liabilities of those businesses when due and payable; potential disruptions to our business due to the Transaction or corporate restructuring and any resulting headcount reduction; our ability to accurately estimate and effectively manage the costs relating to changes in our business offerings and models; a delay or inability to withdraw regulated capital from our subsidiaries; a lack of acceptance or slow adoption of our business model; our ability to retain existing consumers and expand consumer enrollment; our and our care partner's abilities to obtain and accurately assess, code, and report risk adjustment factor scores; our ability to contract with care providers and arrange for the provision of quality care; our ability to accurately estimate medical expenses; our ability to obtain claims information timely and accurately; the impact of any pandemic or epidemic on our business and results of operations; the risks associated with our reliance on third-party providers to operate our business; the impact of modifications or changes to the U.S. health insurance markets; the impact of changes to federal funding for government healthcare programs; our ability to manage any growth of our business; our ability to operate, update or implement our technology platforms and other information technology systems; our ability to retain key executives; our ability to successfully pursue acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses and divest businesses as needed; the occurrence of severe weather events, catastrophic health events, natural or man-made disasters, and social and political conditions or civil unrest; our ability to prevent and contain data security incidents and the impact of data security incidents on our members, patients, employees and financial results; our ability to comply with requirements to maintain effective internal controls; the outcome of threatened or pending litigation and risks of future legal disputes; the impacts resulting from new (or change to existing) laws, regulations and executive actions; our ability to mitigate risks associated with our ACO REACH and related businesses, including any unanticipated market or regulatory developments; and the other factors set forth under the heading 'Risk Factors' in the Company's reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K (including all amendments to those reports) and our other filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or changes in our expectations. June 30, 2025 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 131,618 $ 83,295 Short-term investments 13,946 9,871 Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $55 and $27, respectively 53,074 36,594 ACO REACH performance year receivable 321,596 95,075 Current assets of discontinued operations 89,804 173,006 Prepaids and other current assets 29,844 36,807 Total current assets 639,882 434,648 Other assets: Long-term investments — — Property, equipment and capitalized software, net 11,664 11,240 Intangible assets, net 66,088 71,064 Other non-current assets 26,055 27,431 Total other assets 103,807 109,735 Total assets $ 743,689 $ 544,383 Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Redeemable Preferred Stock and Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) Current liabilities: ​ Medical costs payable $ 97,837 $ 124,360 Accounts payable 5,317 6,298 Short-term borrowings 1,000 2,000 ACO REACH performance year obligation 248,465 — Current liabilities of discontinued operations 333,799 344,651 Risk share payable to deconsolidated entity 123,981 123,981 Warrant liability 27,651 29,738 Other current liabilities 70,362 79,200 Total current liabilities 908,412 710,228 Long-term borrowings 212,433 202,614 Other liabilities 15,899 17,649 Total liabilities 1,136,744 930,491 Commitments and contingencies ​ Redeemable noncontrolling interests 55,729 48,580 Redeemable Series A preferred stock, 0.0001 par value; 750,000 shares authorized in 2025 and 2024; 750,000 shares issued and outstanding in 2025 and 2024 747,481 747,481 Redeemable Series B preferred stock, 0.0001 par value; 175,000 shares authorized in 2025 and 2024; 175,000 shares issued and outstanding in 2025 and 2024 172,936 172,936 Shareholders' equity (deficit): ​ Common stock, 0.0001 par value; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized in 2025 and 2024; 9,024,240 and 8,320,959 shares issued and outstanding in 2025 and 2024, respectively 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 3,107,121 3,099,423 Accumulated deficit (4,464,323 ) (4,442,529 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss — — Treasury stock, at cost, 31,526 shares at December 31, 2025 and 2024 (12,000 ) (12,000 ) Total shareholders' equity (deficit) (1,369,201 ) (1,355,105 ) Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, redeemable preferred stock and shareholders' equity (deficit) $ 743,689 $ 544,383 Expand NeueHealth, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Revenue: ​ ​ Capitated revenue $ 82,532 $ 64,005 $ 163,519 $ 125,471 ACO REACH revenue 115,339 149,802 239,379 321,613 Service revenue 10,420 12,076 20,254 23,691 Investment income 791 108 1,717 311 Total revenue 209,082 225,991 424,869 471,086 Operating expenses: Medical costs 146,410 177,681 307,304 374,555 Operating costs 44,860 70,470 93,533 137,231 Intangible assets impairment — 11,411 — 11,411 Depreciation and amortization 3,555 3,978 7,114 8,540 Total operating expenses 194,825 263,540 407,951 531,737 Operating income (loss) 14,257 (37,549 ) 16,918 (60,651 ) Interest expense 6,878 4,110 13,515 7,040 Warrant expense (income) 562 (2,213 ) (2,087 ) (4,285 ) Gain on troubled debt restructuring — — — (30,311 ) Income (Loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 6,817 (39,446 ) 5,490 (33,095 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (21 ) (187 ) 90 476 Net income (loss) from continuing operations 6,838 (39,259 ) 5,400 (33,571 ) Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (8,386 ) (18,439 ) (17,796 ) (28,304 ) Net Loss (1,548 ) (57,698 ) (12,396 ) (61,875 ) Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests (8,507 ) (932 ) (9,398 ) (12,669 ) Series A preferred stock dividend accrued (10,981 ) (10,422 ) (21,710 ) (20,716 ) Series B preferred stock dividend accrued (2,465 ) (2,338 ) (4,872 ) (4,648 ) Net loss attributable to NeueHealth, Inc. common shareholders $ (23,501 ) $ (71,390 ) $ (48,376 ) $ (99,908 ) Basic and loss income per share attributable to NeueHealth, Inc. common shareholders Continuing operations $ (1.68 ) $ (6.42 ) $ (3.49 ) $ (8.77 ) Discontinued operations (0.94 ) (2.23 ) (2.04 ) (3.46 ) Basic and diluted loss per share (2.62 ) (8.65 ) (5.53 ) (12.23 ) Basic and diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding 8,978 8,253 8,750 8,166 Expand NeueHealth, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (12,396 ) $ (61,875 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 7,114 8,540 Impairment of intangible assets — 11,411 Share-based compensation 7,497 37,407 Payment-In-Kind ('PIK') Interest 8,952 — Gain on troubled debt restructuring — (30,311 ) Net accretion of investments (202 ) (72 ) Loss on disposal of property, equipment, and capitalized software 87 595 Other, net 1,029 (469 ) Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquired assets and liabilities: ​ Accounts receivable (16,480 ) (4,872 ) ACO REACH performance year receivable (226,521 ) (309,639 ) Other assets 9,567 (7,889 ) Medical cost payable (31,421 ) (35,998 ) Risk adjustment payable (4,996 ) (4,155 ) Accounts payable and other liabilities (12,483 ) (14,387 ) Unearned revenue — (11 ) Warrant liability (2,087 ) 8,978 ACO REACH performance year obligation 248,465 325,599 Net cash used in operating activities (23,875 ) (77,148 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of investments (8,224 ) (9,544 ) Proceeds from sales, paydown, and maturities of investments 4,388 2,581 Purchases of property and equipment (2,653 ) (877 ) Proceeds from sale of business, net 61,139 197,121 Net cash provided by investing activities 54,650 189,281 Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from long-term borrowings — 52,411 Repayments of short-term borrowings (1,000 ) (273,636 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders (2,249 ) (4,730 ) Net cash used in financing activities (3,249 ) (225,955 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 27,526 (113,822 ) Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year $ 185,405 $ 375,280 Cash and cash equivalents – end of period $ 212,931 $ 261,458 Expand NeueHealth, Inc. and Subsidiaries Segment Information (in thousands) (Unaudited) NeueCare ($ in thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Statement of income (loss) and operating data: 2025 2024 2025 2024 Revenue: Capitated revenue $ 81,407 $ 64,005 $ 162,394 $ 125,471 Service revenue 6,874 9,803 13,138 19,333 Investment income 120 21 477 21 Total unaffiliated revenue 88,401 73,829 176,009 144,825 Affiliated revenue 3,227 3,156 6,136 5,783 Total segment revenue 91,628 76,985 182,145 150,608 Operating expenses Medical Costs 36,723 33,579 74,241 61,015 Operating Costs 28,936 34,676 56,146 67,265 Intangible assets impairment — 11,411 — 11,411 Depreciation and amortization 2,757 3,221 5,539 7,007 Total operating expenses 68,416 82,887 135,926 146,698 Operating income (loss) $ 23,212 $ (5,902 ) $ 46,219 $ 3,910 Expand Non-GAAP Financial Measures We use the non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Cost Ratio. We define Adjusted EBITDA as Net Loss excluding loss from discontinued operations, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, transaction costs, share-based and other long-term compensation expense, impact of troubled debt restructuring, restructuring and contract termination costs, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, losses related to the bankruptcy of one of our ACO REACH partners, impact of classifying certain of our operations as held-for-sale, and changes in the fair value of derivatives. We define Adjusted Operating Cost Ratio as Operating Cost Ratio excluding share-based compensation expense. These non-GAAP measures have been presented in this quarterly Earnings Release or in the earnings conference call and related materials as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because we believe they assist management and investors in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding and including items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes these measures are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Cost Ratio to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized term under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to Net Income (Loss) as a measure of financial performance or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow available for management's discretionary use as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentation of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company. Adjusted Operating Cost Ratio is not a recognized term under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to Operating Cost Ratio as a measure of financial performance or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of Adjusted Operating Cost Ratio has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentation of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company. The following table provides a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented: (a) Transaction costs include accounting, tax, valuation, consulting, legal and investment banking fees directly relating to financing initiatives and acquisitions or dispositions. These costs can vary from period to period and impact comparability, and we do not believe such transaction costs reflect the ongoing performance of our business. (b) Represents non-cash compensation expense related to stock option and restricted stock unit award grants, which can vary from period to period based on several factors, including the timing, quantity and grant date fair value of the awards. Also includes $0.1 million and $0.2 million of compensation expense that was recognized for the cancellation of P-Unit Awards in relation to our purchase of the minority interest in Centrum for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. There was no equivalent compensation expense included for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. (c) Represents the non-cash change in the fair value of the warrant liability established for warrants included in our financing arrangements, which are remeasured at fair value each reporting period. (d) Restructuring and contract termination costs represent severance costs as part of a workforce reduction, amounts paid for early termination of leases, and impairment of certain long-lived assets primarily relating to our decision to exit the Commercial business for the 2023 plan year. (e) Beginning in the second quarter of 2024, Adjusted EBITDA excludes the impact of our operations classified as held-for-sale that were subsequently sold in November 2024. (f) Represents the costs incurred as a result of one of our ACO REACH care partners filing for bankruptcy; includes the full allowance established for the outstanding receivable and ongoing costs incurred to manage and provide service to members attributed to the care partner that would have otherwise been reimbursed prior to the care partner's bankruptcy. (g) Adjustment has been updated to remove the impact of our held-for-sale operations that are adjusted for in their entirety as described in (e). Expand The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Cost Ratio for the periods presented: (a) Represents non-cash compensation expense related to stock option and restricted stock unit award grants, which can vary from period to period based on several factors, including the timing, quantity and grant date fair value of the awards. Also includes $0.1 million and $0.2 million of compensation expense that was recognized for the cancellation of P-Unit Awards in relation to our purchase of the minority interest in Centrum for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. There was no equivalent compensation expense included within for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. (b) Represents the impact of revenue and operating costs related to our operations classified as held-for-sale beginning in the second quarter of 2024. The sale was completed in November 2024. (c) Transaction related costs include accounting, tax, valuation, consulting, legal and investment banking fees directly relating to financing initiatives and acquisitions or dispositions. These costs can vary from period to period and impact comparability, and we do not believe such transaction costs reflect the ongoing performance of our business. Expand

Analysis-Struggling US healthcare stocks endure rough 2025 but draw some bargain hunters
Analysis-Struggling US healthcare stocks endure rough 2025 but draw some bargain hunters

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

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Analysis-Struggling US healthcare stocks endure rough 2025 but draw some bargain hunters

By Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK (Reuters) -Woes for U.S. healthcare stocks have worsened this year driven partly by Trump administration policies, although some investors are betting that the beaten-down shares are now becoming too much of a bargain to pass up. The S&P 500 healthcare sector -- which includes pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, health insurers and medical equipment makers -- has slumped 5% in 2025, lagging the over 7% gain for the overall index. Pressure to bring down U.S. prescription drug prices to overseas rates, tariffs targeted at pharmaceuticals and cuts to areas such as health research funding and Medicaid are among the Trump administration actions clouding the outlook for the shares this year, investors said. Regulatory obstacles are compounding issues, including expiring drug patents and setbacks for bellwethers including UnitedHealth Group. "You have got this constant overarching political and regulatory overhang that doesn't really seem to subside with any administration," said Jared Holz, healthcare sector strategist at Mizuho Securities. "When you have so much nebulousness around the sector, it turns people off rather than invites them to the party." In another sign of the group losing favor, healthcare exchange-traded-funds have seen 12 consecutive months of net outflows as of July for a total outflow of $11.5 billion in that time, more than for any other sector, according to State Street Investment Management. The performance picture is even dimmer over a longer period. While shares of massive technology companies pushed the benchmark S&P 500 up over 50% the past three years, the healthcare sector is little changed in that time. That gap has put the 60-stock sector at nearly its biggest discount to the broader market in 30 years, which some investors hope is an inflection point for the battered group. "The valuation is extremely cheap and the relative performance is at an extreme," said Walter Todd, chief investment officer at Greenwood Capital, whose healthcare holdings include diversified giant Johnson & Johnson and medical device maker Stryker. "So at this point, it seems like a pretty decent setup to get some outperformance." The price-to-earnings ratio for the healthcare sector, based on earnings estimates for the next year, has fallen to 16.2 times from nearly 20 a year ago, according to LSEG Datastream. Meanwhile, the S&P 500's rally to records has driven the index's P/E ratio to over 22 times -- giving the broader market a significant premium over the healthcare sector. 'BAD NEWS IS PRICED IN' Some high-profile healthcare names are at even cheaper valuations. For example, Merck is trading at a forward P/E of 8.7, against its long-term average of 14.5, while fellow drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb trades at 7.4 against its average of 15.8, according to LSEG. Year-to-date, shares of both Merck and Bristol Myers are down roughly 20%. The group is drawing bets from some value investors such as Patrick Kaser, portfolio manager at Brandywine Global, whose portfolio is overweight the sector including owning shares of CVS Health and European drugmakers GSK and Sanofi. "Our perspective is a lot of this bad news is priced in and then some," Kaser said. "To bet against the sector from here, you're essentially continuing to bet on the valuation gap, which is already large, continuing to widen." The group's decline means the total market value of the S&P 500 healthcare sector is about $4.8 trillion, not much higher than the $4.3 trillion value of Nvidia, the semiconductor company that has symbolized the artificial intelligence boom. Indeed, some investors said a shift in capital away from Nvidia and other massive tech companies could spark healthcare shares. Such a move appeared to occur in the first quarter, investors said, when the healthcare sector rose 6% while declines in tech and megacap stocks dragged indexes lower. Fears of an economic downturn also could help healthcare shares, at least on a relative basis. The group is often viewed as a defensive area in rockier economic times. Economic fears flared following last Friday's weaker-than-expected employment report, while some strategists say the market could be due for a pullback after surging over 20% since its April lows. "During the first quarter, healthcare did great even as tech rolled over, as the fears of an economic slowdown got to more economically sensitive stocks," said Chris Grisanti, chief market strategist at MAI Capital Management, adding he expects healthcare "will perform better in a more difficult market." More clarity on regulatory issues, including tariffs, also could support healthcare, investors said. But some value investors are hesitant to dive into the group. Michael Mullaney, director of global markets research at Boston Partners, said he is wary some healthcare shares could be "value traps," preferring to overweight areas including industrials or financials. "There's been just so much of an overhang in the sector," Mullaney said. "There are better places to go with cleaner stories." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Audien Hearing Enters Walgreens Stores Nationwide, Signaling Major Retail Expansion
Audien Hearing Enters Walgreens Stores Nationwide, Signaling Major Retail Expansion

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time29 minutes ago

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Audien Hearing Enters Walgreens Stores Nationwide, Signaling Major Retail Expansion

Walgreens will carry top-selling Audien hearing aids in thousands of locations SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Audien Hearing, the No. 1-selling over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid brand, today announced that its flagship Atom One and Atom Pro 2 hearing aids will be available in Walgreens stores, as well as on and in the Walgreens app, this month. The rollout marks Audien's entry into retail pharmacy, advancing its mission to make hearing support more affordable and accessible for everyone. Audien products will be available in nearly 2,000 Walgreens stores in August, expanding to more than 4,400 stores by mid-November. The rollout reflects Audien's broader shift into omnichannel distribution to tackle the global challenge of hearing loss - which affects over 1 billion people - by making highly functional, discreet hearing solutions widely available starting at only $98. "Launching in Walgreens is more than expanding our distribution, it's about making hearing care easier to access for everyone," said Ishan Patel, CEO of Audien Hearing. "With Walgreens' deep commitment to care, trust, and accessibility, we're proud to collaborate with them to bring effective hearing solutions to customers without prescriptions, appointments, or high costs." "At Walgreens, we're committed to meeting people where they are in their health journey and that includes making hearing support easier to access," said Tracey Koller, chief merchandising officer, Walgreens. "Collaborating with Audien allows us to bring more affordable, effective hearing solutions to our customers and helps them live healthier and happier lives. Audien's launch into Walgreens will help reach more individuals experiencing hearing changes who are looking for convenient, effective solutions. With over 1 million people already served through its OTC offering, this expansion helps fulfill Audien's vision of Hearing for Everyone® by increasing its physical retail footprint to match its impact. To learn more or find a participating store, visit About Audien HearingAudien Hearing is the No. 1-selling OTC hearing aid brand in the world, serving over 1 million online customers and carried by thousands of major retail stores across the US. Founded by three grandsons inspired by their grandparents' hearing struggles, Audien is on a mission to tear down the barriers between people and better health - giving everyone the power to hear clearly, connect deeply, and live freely. With a growing product line, a values-driven team, and a commitment to impact, the company is redefining what hearing health can and should look like. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Audien Hearing Sign in to access your portfolio

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