Cigna rallies 12% after ending Humana deal talks, approving new $10B buyback

Cigna Group (NYSE:) has reportedly abandoned its pursuit of a merger with Humana (NYSE:) after facing shareholder resistance to the proposed deal, which aimed to create a health-insurance giant worth around $140 billion.

The companies failed to reach an agreement on price and other financial terms, according to the Wall Street Journal report.

Cigna, now focusing on smaller acquisitions, experienced a nearly 10% drop in its stock since the talks surfaced.

Instead of the merger, Cigna announced plans for an additional $10 billion in stock buybacks, bringing its total repurchases to $11.3 billion.

“We believe Cigna’s shares are significantly undervalued and repurchases represent a value-enhancing deployment of capital as we work to support high-quality care, improved affordability, and better health outcomes,” said David M. Cordani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Since the initial report of considering a sale of its Medicare Advantage business, Cigna stock has fallen approximately 16%. This decline followed speculation that such a move was a precursor to a potential merger with Humana.

Along these lines, Cigna shares rose more than 12% on the latest WSJ report while Humana stock added 2.3% in pre-market Monday.

Analysts from Jefferies said walking away from the deal is “a short term win for CI investors.” The firm upgraded shares to Buy from Hold with a new price target of $341 per share.

“Regardless of the reason, taking advantage of a negative reaction to deal reports by directing almost all FCF toward buybacks is music to CI holders’ value-sensitive ears,” analysts from Jefferies said in a note.

“We see shares climbing back to a post-3Q valuation which is +20% from $259/share, but an extension above that level wouldn’t surprise,” they added.

Analysts from JPMorgan also weighed in positively on the development.

“With the deal in the rear view, we are very positive on the near-term outlook for CI following strong 3Q results and what we believe is a solid fundamental setup heading into 2024.”