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Humana Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Third-quarter GAAP and adjusted EPS: 3Q26 GAAP diluted EPS was $1.33, against $1.62 a year earlier. Adjusted results were a loss of $0.70 per share, against adjusted EPS of $3.24 in 3Q25. Source
  • Benefit ratio at 93.7 percent: The Insurance segment GAAP benefit ratio was 93.7 percent for 3Q26. Management compared it with guidance of slightly above 94 percent for the quarter. Source
  • Insurance segment moved to loss: Insurance segment GAAP loss from operations was $303 million in 3Q26, against income of $251 million in 3Q25. Year-to-date segment income was $1,952 million, against $2,591 million. Source
  • Noncash put liability reversed: A noncash reversal of a net put liability of about $1.2 billion was recorded. The put/call valuation adjustment of $358 million pretax is excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • BlackRock joint venture announced: The new joint venture is with HPS Investment Partners, a BlackRock subsidiary, and CenterWell Senior Primary Care, replacing the earlier joint ventures. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance for FY 2026 is now at least $9.50, raised from at least $9.00 in the prior quarter. Source
  • GAAP EPS guidance raised: GAAP EPS guidance for FY 2026 is at least $15.09, up from the previous estimate of at least $6.52. Source

“Humana is delivering positive results for our members, our patients and their health,”

Humana President and CEO Jim Rechtin

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS SourceFY 2026at least $9.50Raised from at least $9.00
GAAP EPS SourceFY 2026at least $15.09Raised from at least $6.52
Initial option liability (HPS joint venture), per diluted share Sourcefourth quarter 20262.14 per share, noncashNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance raised from at least $9.00 to at least $9.50. Source
  • Guidance raised: GAAP EPS guidance revised up from at least $6.52 to at least $15.09. Source
  • New: A joint venture with HPS Investment Partners (BlackRock) was announced, replacing the previous Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe joint ventures. Source

Quarter and year-to-date results

  • Third-quarter GAAP and adjusted EPS: 3Q26 GAAP diluted EPS was $1.33, against $1.62 a year earlier. Adjusted results were a loss of $0.70 per share, against adjusted EPS of $3.24 in 3Q25. Source
  • Year-to-date GAAP EPS higher: Year-to-date 2026 GAAP EPS was $16.84 against $16.43 in the prior year. Year-to-date adjusted EPS was $17.17 against $21.10. Source
  • Pretax GAAP income rose: GAAP pretax income was $216 million in 3Q26, against $134 million in 3Q25. Year-to-date pretax income was $2,763 million, against $2,566 million. Source

Insurance segment results

  • Benefit ratio at 93.7 percent: The Insurance segment GAAP benefit ratio was 93.7 percent for 3Q26. Management compared it with guidance of slightly above 94 percent for the quarter. Source
  • Insurance segment moved to loss: Insurance segment GAAP loss from operations was $303 million in 3Q26, against income of $251 million in 3Q25. Year-to-date segment income was $1,952 million, against $2,591 million. Source
  • Insurance cost ratio fell: The Insurance segment operating cost ratio was 7.7 percent in 3Q26, against 9.1 percent in 3Q25. Year to date it was 7.4 percent, against 8.5 percent. Source

“We are also increasingly driving financial and operating performance toward being 'ahead' of our plan.”

Humana President and CEO Jim Rechtin

CenterWell, Medicaid and revenue

  • CenterWell patients up 30 percent: CenterWell Senior Primary Care grew by 146,800 patients year to date, or 30 percent. Management describes this as continued expansion of the CenterWell footprint. Source
  • Medicaid membership up 7 percent: Year-to-date Medicaid membership grew by 103,600, or 7 percent. Management attributed this largely to integrated Duals programs starting in Michigan, Illinois and South Carolina. Source
  • Revenues rose year over year: Revenues were $41,155 million in 3Q26 against $32,649 million in 3Q25, and $121,670 million year to date against $97,149 million. Source

Operating costs and charges

  • Consolidated cost ratio fell: The consolidated operating cost ratio was 11.3 percent in 3Q26, against 12.6 percent a year earlier. The adjusted ratio was 11.2 percent, against 11.8 percent. Source
  • Value creation charges lower: Value creation initiatives charges were $25 million pretax in 3Q26, against $267 million in 3Q25. Year to date they were $179 million, against $320 million. Source
  • Impairment charges on minority stakes: Impairment charges were $3 million in 3Q26 and $24 million year to date. They relate to minority investments deemed unrecoverable based on recent market activity. Source

Capital, balance sheet and joint venture

  • Noncash put liability reversed: A noncash reversal of a net put liability of about $1.2 billion was recorded. The put/call valuation adjustment of $358 million pretax is excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • BlackRock joint venture announced: The new joint venture is with HPS Investment Partners, a BlackRock subsidiary, and CenterWell Senior Primary Care, replacing the earlier joint ventures. Source
  • Funding and cost of capital: Management says the joint venture enhances balance sheet efficiency, gives greater financial flexibility at a reduced cost of capital, and funds future growth. Source

Full-year 2026 earnings guidance

  • Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance for FY 2026 is now at least $9.50, raised from at least $9.00 in the prior quarter. Source
  • GAAP EPS guidance raised: GAAP EPS guidance for FY 2026 is at least $15.09, up from the previous estimate of at least $6.52. Source
  • Guidance excludes future value changes: FY 2026 GAAP and Adjusted EPS guidance exclude future value changes to items not yet recognized, which cannot currently be reasonably estimated. Source

Transformation program and reporting

  • Multi-year program re-aligns costs: The multi-year transformation program intends to re-align the cost structure, operating model and technology footprint with evolving market conditions. Source
  • Program charges kept at corporate: Value creation charges are recorded at the corporate level and not allocated to segments. The company has applied this adjustment consistently across all periods. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2026

  • GAAP EPS guidance may change: Management said FY 2026 GAAP EPS guidance may change because of ongoing value creation and other strategic initiatives. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management says the FY 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance anticipates a year-over-year decline from the Star Ratings headwind for Bonus Year 2026, net of mitigation. Source
  • Financial: Put/call valuation adjustments are noncash fair value measurements tied to the primary care strategic partnership and are excluded from adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Reported 3Q26 benefit ratio of 93.7 percent, which management described as favorable to its guidance of slightly above 94 percent. Source
  • Not stated: Management says it is increasingly driving financial and operating performance toward being ahead of its plan. Source
  • Not stated: The value creation charges relate to a multi-year transformation program approved by management with defined scope and milestones. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.