Innovative Detection Method: Hummingbird Diagnostics published a study in Nature Communications Medicine showcasing a direct RNA sequencing method based on Oxford Nanopore Technologies that detects small RNA methylation in blood, revealing biomarkers linked to lung cancer and marking a significant enhancement in liquid biopsy diagnostics sensitivity.
Multiomic Liquid Biopsy: The research demonstrates that direct small RNA sequencing can identify differential RNA methylation patterns associated with lung cancer, providing a new dimension in liquid biopsy diagnostics that could significantly improve early cancer detection accuracy.
Collaborative Research Findings: Conducted in collaboration with University Hospital and Polyclinic F. D. Roosevelt in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the study found a higher proportion of methylation-modified RNA fragments in the plasma of lung cancer patients, supporting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and advancing the application of liquid biopsies.
Future Development Potential: Hummingbird's CTO Dr. Rastislav Horos emphasized that detecting RNA methylation will complement existing DNA methylation assays, enhancing the sensitivity of liquid biopsies and driving precision in early cancer detection.
HUM
$265.99+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on HUM
Wall Street analysts forecast HUM stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HUM is 293.81 USD with a low forecast of 231.00 USD and a high forecast of 341.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
18 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast HUM stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HUM is 293.81 USD with a low forecast of 231.00 USD and a high forecast of 341.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 274.740
Low
231.00
Averages
293.81
High
341.00
Current: 274.740
Low
231.00
Averages
293.81
High
341.00
Argus
Hold
maintain
2025-12-08
Reason
Argus
Price Target
2025-12-08
maintain
Hold
Reason
Argus keeps a Hold rating on Humana but notes that the company is focused on recovering EPS growth in 2027 and beyond, adding that should the firm see signs of sustained profitability, it would re-consider a Buy rating on the name. Argus further states that while Humana is managing the rising medical cost trends, these actions may slow Medicare Advantage growth in the near-term and slow EPS growth, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
Jefferies
David Windley
Hold
to
Buy
upgrade
$253 -> $313
2025-12-05
Reason
Jefferies
David Windley
Price Target
$253 -> $313
2025-12-05
upgrade
Hold
to
Buy
Reason
Jefferies analyst David Windley upgraded Humana to Buy from Hold with a price target of $313, up from $253. The firm upped the company's earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 following an analysis of Humana's Stars diversification effort. Humana's voluntary churn and "significant" 2026 share gains should drive even higher Stars diversification than previously anticipated, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
Barclays
Andrew Mok
Equal Weight
downgrade
$245 -> $234
2025-11-25
Reason
Barclays
Andrew Mok
Price Target
$245 -> $234
2025-11-25
downgrade
Equal Weight
Reason
Barclays analyst Andrew Mok lowered the firm's price target on Humana to $234 from $245 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. If company "executes flawlessly," $14 of earnings per share next year is possible, the analyst tells investors in a research note. However, the firm says Humana's "execution risk is real." It models break-even individual Medicare Advantage margins and $11 in EPS.
Wells Fargo
Stephen Baxter
Overweight
downgrade
$347 -> $290
2025-11-10
Reason
Wells Fargo
Stephen Baxter
Price Target
$347 -> $290
2025-11-10
downgrade
Overweight
Reason
Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Baxter lowered the firm's price target on Humana to $290 from $347 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm is also lowering estimates on refined star rating headwind given clarity on VBC / Group MA dynamics.
About HUM
Humana Inc. provides Humana insurance services and CenterWell health care services. The Company's segments include Insurance and CenterWell. The Insurance segment consists of Medicare benefits, marketed to individuals or directly via group Medicare accounts, as well as its contract with CMS to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition (LI-NET) prescription drug plan program and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible demonstration, and Long-Term Support Services benefits. This segment also includes products consisting of employer group commercial fully-insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits marketed to individuals and employer groups. The CenterWell segment includes its pharmacy, primary care, and home solutions operations. The segment also includes its strategic partnerships with WCAS to develop and operate senior-focused, payor-agnostic, primary care centers, as well as its minority ownership interest in hospice operations.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
