Latest news with #Centene
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens 'lawfare' to attacks on Trump and nominees
The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis punched back at allegations linking the governor and his wife, Casey DeSantis, to $10 million given to the Hope Florida Foundation after the state settled with a government-sponsored healthcare provider. "Governor DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis have been subject to politically motivated lawfare in the state of Florida, and now the same lawfare is being perpetrated against President Trump and his nominees," Communications Director Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital. "It's ridiculous and especially shameful coming from Republicans who hate to see others delivering results." Desantis Goads Congress To Follow Fl's Doge Blueprint As Musk's Cuts Still Wait For Vote Centene, a large medical insurance provider that specializes in government-sponsored programs like Medicaid and Medicare, returned $67 million in a settlement with the state's Agency for Health Care Administration over claims that Centene was overbilling Medicaid payments. Following the settlement in September 2024, $10 million of the funds were sent to the Hope Florida Foundation. The $10 million given to the Hope Florida Foundation was then split into two separate $5 million grants to 501(c)(4) organizations. One went to Save Our Society from Drugs and the other to Secure Florida's Future, Inc. Read On The Fox News App Subsequently, $8.5 million of those funds were dispersed to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee that previously targeted Florida Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment to recreationally legalize marijuana. Casey DeSantis has been outspoken against the legalization of marijuana. A senior official from DeSantis's office told Fox News Digital that the Hope Florida Foundation is a separate entity from the Hope Florida initiative that has been spearheaded by Casey DeSantis. Gop Rails Against 'Blatantly False' Dem Claims About Medicaid Reform In Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' A senior official from DeSantis' office also told Fox News Digital that there is no official investigation being conducted by the Leon County State Attorney's office, despite reports that a record custodian in the state attorney's office referred to the matter as "an open, ongoing investigation." In a May 21 email exchange obtained by Fox News Digital, the New York Times corrected a headline stating that "Casey DeSantis [Is] Under Investigation" after a DeSantis official clarified to the publication that there is no official investigation taking place. Florida state Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, chairman of the healthcare appropriations subcommittee, originally unearthed the funds. Andrade told Fox he was unaware if there was an actual ongoing investigation, but added that he had a "long conversation with the [Department of Justice]" about documents and communications related to the movement of funds. He noted he does nOt "see how Casey or [Ron] DeSantis are involved." Dr. Oz Says Taxpayers Footing $14 Billion Bill For Medicaid Fraud While Eligible Patients Struggle For Care Andrade went on to explain that he believes DeSantis's chief of staff at the time was involved in brokering the grants between the Hope Florida Foundation and the two entities which received $5 million each. He also slammed the Hope Florida initiative itself, saying "they can't back up any of the claims about what state employees are doing." "The concept of Hope Florida is telling existing employees to do a better job of helping people," Andrede added. "That's it." DeSantis previously addressed Andrade's claims at a May 21 press conference in Westin, Florida. Desantis Excoriates Fl House Leadership Amid Republican Civil War, Accusing Them Of 'Revolt Against' Voters "You had one state representative with a political agenda, and he has a political agenda to try to smear Hope Florida—to try to smear people associated with the administration," DeSantis explained. "My wife, who's done a great job for this state by the way, not just on Hope Florida, saving taxpayers $100 million, getting 30,000 people off means-tested welfare. Show me someone else in this country that has been able to do that?" The Hope Florida Foundation controversy has shaken up political implications for the upcoming governor's race. Gov. DeSantis is termed out, but his wife, Casey, is widely rumored to enter the field. Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida is the only GOP candidate declared so far, and he received an endorsement from President Donald Trump shortly after his announcement. Fox News Digital reached out to the Leon County State Attorney's office but did not receive a response in time for article source: DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens 'lawfare' to attacks on Trump and nominees
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens 'lawfare' to attacks on Trump and nominees
The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis punched back at allegations linking the governor and his wife, Casey DeSantis, to $10 million given to the Hope Florida Foundation after the state settled with a government-sponsored healthcare provider. "Governor DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis have been subject to politically motivated lawfare in the state of Florida, and now the same lawfare is being perpetrated against President Trump and his nominees," Communications Director Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital. "It's ridiculous and especially shameful coming from Republicans who hate to see others delivering results." Centene, a large medical insurance provider that specializes in government-sponsored programs like Medicaid and Medicare, returned $67 million in a settlement with the state's Agency for Health Care Administration over claims that Centene was overbilling Medicaid payments. Following the settlement in September 2024, $10 million of the funds were sent to the Hope Florida Foundation. The $10 million given to the Hope Florida Foundation was then split into two separate $5 million grants to 501(c)(4) organizations. One went to Save Our Society from Drugs and the other to Secure Florida's Future, Inc. Subsequently, $8.5 million of those funds were dispersed to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee that previously targeted Florida Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment to recreationally legalize marijuana. Casey DeSantis has been outspoken against the legalization of marijuana. A senior official from DeSantis's office told Fox News Digital that the Hope Florida Foundation is a separate entity from the Hope Florida initiative that has been spearheaded by Casey DeSantis. A senior official from DeSantis' office also told Fox News Digital that there is no official investigation being conducted by the Leon County State Attorney's office, despite reports that a record custodian in the state attorney's office referred to the matter as "an open, ongoing investigation." In a May 21 email exchange obtained by Fox News Digital, the New York Times corrected a headline stating that "Casey DeSantis [Is] Under Investigation" after a DeSantis official clarified to the publication that there is no official investigation taking place. Florida state Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, chairman of the healthcare appropriations subcommittee, originally unearthed the funds. Andrade told Fox he was unaware if there was an actual ongoing investigation, but added that he had a "long conversation with the [Department of Justice]" about documents and communications related to the movement of funds. He noted he does nOt "see how Casey or [Ron] DeSantis are involved." Andrade went on to explain that he believes DeSantis's chief of staff at the time was involved in brokering the grants between the Hope Florida Foundation and the two entities which received $5 million each. He also slammed the Hope Florida initiative itself, saying "they can't back up any of the claims about what state employees are doing." "The concept of Hope Florida is telling existing employees to do a better job of helping people," Andrede added. "That's it." DeSantis previously addressed Andrade's claims at a May 21 press conference in Westin, Florida. "You had one state representative with a political agenda, and he has a political agenda to try to smear Hope Florida—to try to smear people associated with the administration," DeSantis explained. "My wife, who's done a great job for this state by the way, not just on Hope Florida, saving taxpayers $100 million, getting 30,000 people off means-tested welfare. Show me someone else in this country that has been able to do that?" The Hope Florida Foundation controversy has shaken up political implications for the upcoming governor's race. Gov. DeSantis is termed out, but his wife, Casey, is widely rumored to enter the field. Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida is the only GOP candidate declared so far, and he received an endorsement from President Donald Trump shortly after his announcement. Fox News Digital reached out to the Leon County State Attorney's office but did not receive a response in time for publication. Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips can be sent to and on X @MizellPreston
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: Netflix, Eaton and Centene
For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – May 27, 2025 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Netflix NFLX, Eaton ETN and Centene CNC. These 3 Companies Crushed Earnings Season The 2025 Q1 earnings season is slowly winding down, with the majority of S&P 500 companies already delivering their results. The period has overall been positive, though commentary surrounding upcoming periods has largely dictated post-earnings moves amid elevated uncertainty stemming from tariff talks. Still, several companies – Netflix, Eaton and Centene – knocked it out of the park, posting robust results that had shareholders pleased. Let's take a closer look at each release for those interested in near-term momentum. Netflix Shares Surge Consistently strong results have led to NFLX's surge over the past year, with the reaffirmation of FY25 guidance in its latest print going a long way in alleviating investors amid the uncertain environment. Up 90% over the past year, the stock has been a massive bright spot, with its run seemingly being ignored by many amid other trends like the AI frenzy. Continued subscriber growth has been the real highlight from Netflix, with the company reporting a negative subscriber growth rate just once over its last 12 quarters. The ad-supported tiers were a big surprise to consumers initially given Netflix's popularity for being ad-free, but the success of the implementation is notable. A big crackdown on password sharing, though initially met with blowback among subscribers, has also unlocked many obvious benefits as the company looks to capture revenue from viewers who were potentially watching without an individual subscription. Netflix's sales growth has remained rock-solid, posting double-digit percentage YoY growth in six consecutive periods. Eaton Breaks Records Eaton's results were fantastic, with the company posting record Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.72 (up 13% YoY), record Q1 sales of $6.4 billion (up 7% YoY), and record segment margins of 23.9% (80 bp increase YoY). Further, organic sales growth totaled 9%, above the high end of previous guidance. ETN topped off the results by raising its organic revenue growth guidance for its current fiscal year. Backlog growth within its Electrical segment improved 6% year-over-year, whereas its Aerospace backlog also enjoyed a 16% surge from the year-ago period. The company's top line has shown solid, consistent growth, as shown below. In addition to consistent sales growth, the company has shown a nice commitment to increasingly rewarding shareholders, sporting a 7% five-year annualized dividend growth rate. As shown in the annual chart below, ETN's dividend growth has remained strong not just over the last five years, but over the last decade overall. Please note that the final value in the chart below is tracked on a trailing twelve-month basis, as the company's current fiscal year hasn't ended yet. Centene Raises Outlook Adjusted EPS of $2.90 and sales of $46.6 billion from Centene blew away our consensus estimates, with earnings up a strong 28% year-over-year. Higher than expected membership growth led the company to up its 2025 premium and service revenues guidance by $6.0 billion, which already improved by a strong 17% YoY throughout the quarter. As shown below, Centene's sales have remained strong over recent periods, with the most recent period reflecting a notable acceleration. The company also maintained its current year EPS guidance, providing investors with a nice sense of stability in an anxious setting. Analysts adjusted their current year sales expectations accordingly following the release and guidance upgrade, with Centene now expected to post $179.6 billion in revenues in its current fiscal year. The stock also sports a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Bottom Line The 2025 Q1 earnings season is slowly grinding down, with the majority of S&P 500 companies already delivering their results. The period has been positive so far, with all three companies above posting robust results and either reaffirming or raising their guidance. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock It's only 1/9,000th the size of NVIDIA which skyrocketed more than +800% since we recommended it. NVIDIA is still strong, but our new top chip stock has much more room to boom. With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $803 billion by 2028. See This Stock Now for Free >> Netflix, Inc. (NFLX): Free Stock Analysis Report Eaton Corporation, PLC (ETN): Free Stock Analysis Report Centene Corporation (CNC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Report: Tallahassee prosecutor now looking into $10M tied to Casey DeSantis charity
Tallahassee-area State Attorney Jack Campbell reportedly has opened an investigation into the $10 million from a Medicaid settlement given to a charity connected to First Lady Casey DeSantis that made its way into the coffers of a political committee. And Gov. Ron DeSantis isn't happy about it. 'Based on what?' DeSantis said May 20 when a reporter asked about the probe, which was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau. 'Everything that's been thrown at (Hope Florida) is pure politics,' DeSantis said. 'I believe in this program deeply and stand by it 100%.' Campbell, a Democrat who first took office in 2017, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month he told the Tallahassee Democrat he wasn't investigating the Hope Florida payment. As state attorney for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, he is the capital region's top elected law enforcement official, responsible for prosecuting crime in six counties: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla and Leon, which includes Tallahassee. DeSantis had just finished lauding the Hope Florida program at an event in Tampa, highlighting its work to connect low-income Floridians with social services provided by nonprofits, including churches. As the brainchild of Casey DeSantis, Hope Florida began in 2021, using state employees in several agencies as 'Hope navigators' to get those in need in touch with non-governmental entities to provide support. But an inquiry led by House Republicans discovered a $10 million payment to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity set up in 2023 to raise money for the program, was passed through other nonprofits before ending up in a political committee. The payment was part of a settlement between Centene, a provider under the state's Medicaid Managed Care program, and the state. Under the settlement, which was brought by overpayments made to Centene, the state received $57 million and the Hope Florida Foundation received a $10 million 'donation.' Days later, the Hope Florida Foundation gave two $5 million grants to two nonprofits. Those nonprofits then gave $8.5 million to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee. That committee was run by James Uthmeier, who in October 2024 – when the payment was made – was DeSantis' chief of staff and is now Florida's attorney general. The committee used the money to oppose Amendment 3 on the November ballot, which would have legalized recreational marijuana. "We aren't aware of and haven't received any inquiries from the state attorney," Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for Uthmeier, stated in a post on X. "Looks like more lawfare driven by the fake news media and those politically motivated to hurt Gov. Ron DeSantis." House Health Care Budget Subcommittee Chair Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, led the initial probe into the payment. He has previously said he thinks a crime was committed but it wasn't his responsibility to conduct a criminal investigation or charge anyone. A request for comment is pending. Previous coverage: State Attorney Jack Campbell says he's not looking into Hope Florida foundation donation Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@ Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis fumes as Hope Florida cash triggers prosecutor's inquiry
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Q1 Rundown: Centene (NYSE:CNC) Vs Other Health Insurance Providers Stocks
Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q1 behind us, let's have a look at Centene (NYSE:CNC) and its peers. Upfront premiums collected by health insurers lead to reliable revenue, but profitability ultimately depends on accurate risk assessments and the ability to control medical costs. Health insurers are also highly sensitive to regulatory changes and economic conditions such as unemployment. Going forward, the industry faces tailwinds from an aging population, increasing demand for personalized healthcare services, and advancements in data analytics to improve cost management. However, continued regulatory scrutiny on pricing practices, the potential for government-led reforms such as expanded public healthcare options, and inflation in medical costs could add volatility to margins. One big debate among investors is the long-term impact of AI and whether it will help underwriting, fraud detection, and claims processing or whether it may wade into ethical grey areas like reinforcing biases and widening disparities in medical care. The 11 health insurance providers stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts' consensus estimates by 3% while next quarter's revenue guidance was in line. Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 8.4% since the latest earnings results. Serving nearly 1 in 15 Americans through its government healthcare programs, Centene (NYSE:CNC) is a healthcare company that manages government-sponsored health insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare for low-income and complex-needs populations. Centene reported revenues of $46.62 billion, up 15.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts' expectations by 8.3%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts' expectations and a solid beat of analysts' EPS estimates. "Our first quarter results demonstrate the resiliency of Centene's platform and the progress we are making as an organization while navigating a dynamic policy landscape," said Chief Executive Officer of Centene, Sarah M. London. Centene achieved the highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. The company lost 656,600 customers and ended up with a total of 27.94 million. The results were likely priced in, however, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $61. Is now the time to buy Centene? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. With over 9,000 retail pharmacy locations serving as neighborhood health destinations across America, CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) operates retail pharmacies, provides pharmacy benefit management services, and offers health insurance through its Aetna subsidiary. CVS Health reported revenues of $94.59 billion, up 7% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 1.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts' same-store sales estimates and an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 6.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $62.36. Is now the time to buy CVS Health? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. With over 100 million people served across its various businesses and a workforce of more than 400,000, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) operates a health insurance business and Optum, a healthcare services division that provides everything from pharmacy benefits to primary care. UnitedHealth reported revenues of $109.6 billion, up 9.8% year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 1.7%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' full-year EPS guidance estimates. UnitedHealth delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. The company added 395,000 customers to reach a total of 54.12 million. As expected, the stock is down 50.9% since the results and currently trades at $287.66. Read our full analysis of UnitedHealth's results here. Founded in 1980 as a provider for underserved communities in Southern California, Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH) provides managed healthcare services primarily to low-income individuals through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace insurance programs across 21 states. Molina Healthcare reported revenues of $11.15 billion, up 12.2% year on year. This result surpassed analysts' expectations by 2.6%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a decent beat of analysts' EPS estimates but customer base in line with analysts' estimates. The company added 217,000 customers to reach a total of 5.75 million. The stock is down 1.9% since reporting and currently trades at $325.34. Read our full, actionable report on Molina Healthcare here, it's free. Founded in 2013 with a mission to transform healthcare for seniors, Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ:ALHC) provides Medicare Advantage health plans for seniors with features like concierge services, transportation benefits, and technology-driven care coordination. Alignment Healthcare reported revenues of $926.9 million, up 47.5% year on year. This number beat analysts' expectations by 4.4%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates. Alignment Healthcare pulled off the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The company added 28,400 customers to reach a total of 217,500. The stock is down 10.2% since reporting and currently trades at $15.00. Read our full, actionable report on Alignment Healthcare here, it's free. The Fed's interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Join Paid Stock Investor Research Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here. 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