Molina Healthcare Stock Plummets 29% After Earnings Miss
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1d ago
0mins
Should l Buy MOH?
Source: Benzinga
- Unexpected Quarterly Loss: Molina Healthcare reported an unexpected quarterly loss, causing its stock to plummet 29% in a single day, marking the largest drop since 2012 and indicating significant challenges in profitability.
- Weak 2026 Outlook: The company issued a weak earnings outlook for 2026, which may undermine investor confidence and further pressure the stock price, reflecting market concerns about its future growth potential.
- Strong Overall Market Performance: Despite Molina Healthcare's stock decline, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged nearly 2% on Friday, reaching a new all-time high, indicating a market preference for value stocks that may overshadow individual stock weaknesses.
- Small Caps Outperform: Small caps showed outstanding performance on Friday, with the Russell 2000 index soaring over 3%, suggesting increased investor confidence in smaller companies, contrasting sharply with Molina's performance.
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Analyst Views on MOH
Wall Street analysts forecast MOH stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MOH is 180.85 USD with a low forecast of 155.00 USD and a high forecast of 250.00 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.
14 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 176.840
Low
155.00
Averages
180.85
High
250.00
Current: 176.840
Low
155.00
Averages
180.85
High
250.00
About MOH
Molina Healthcare, Inc. is a provider of managed healthcare services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through the state insurance marketplaces. The Company operates through four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace and Other. The Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace segments represent the government-funded or sponsored programs under which it offers managed healthcare services. Medicaid provides healthcare and long-term services and support to low-income Americans. Medicare is a federal program that provides eligible persons aged 65 and over, and some disabled persons, with a variety of hospital, medical insurance, and prescription drug benefits. The Marketplace insurance exchanges allow individuals and small groups to purchase federally subsidized health insurance. It arranges healthcare services for its members through contracts with a network of providers, including independent physicians and physician groups, hospitals, ancillary providers, and pharmacies.
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.
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- Earnings Call Scheduled: Molina Healthcare will host a conference call on February 6, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET to discuss its Q4 2025 earnings results, aiming to provide investors with the latest financial insights and company developments.
- Webcast Access: Investors can access the live webcast by visiting https://investors.molinahealthcare.com/news-events/events, ensuring timely communication and transparency of information.
- Dial-in Participation: Participants can join the call by dialing (877) 883-0383 and using confirmation number 0597929, allowing investors to engage directly in discussions and receive real-time feedback.
- Replay Information: After the call, investors can listen to a replay by dialing (855) 669-9658 with confirmation number 4621527, ensuring that those unable to attend live can still access important information.
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- Disappointing Financial Results: Molina Healthcare reported an adjusted loss per share of ($2.75) for Q4 2025, despite premium revenue of $10.7 billion, primarily due to retroactive Medicaid items and ongoing marketplace pressures, indicating persistent challenges in the healthcare insurance market.
- Significant Contract Win: The company secured a historic Children's Medical Services contract in Florida, expected to yield $6 billion in annual revenue, which will lay a foundation for future growth and demonstrates Molina's strategic advantage in a competitive healthcare landscape.
- Strategic Shift: Molina has decided to exit the traditional MAPD product to focus exclusively on dual-eligible Medicare members, a strategic realignment aimed at optimizing resource allocation and enhancing profitability, which is expected to have a profound impact on the business structure by 2027.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Management projects 2026 premium revenue of approximately $42 billion; however, despite growth from new contracts, overall market decline and rising medical costs will pressure profitability, reflecting the company's cautious approach to navigating market volatility.
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