Cigna Corp. ‘will need to add growth businesses to its portfolio’ – Bernstein

Bernstein said in a note that Cigna Corp . (NYSE:) selling its Medicare Advantage (MA) unit may be to facilitate a future HUM acquisition. Analysts made the comments after a report from Bloomberg said Health Care Service Corp and Elevance Health (ELV) are competing to acquire the MA business.

“Cigna is reportedly expecting final bids by next week. Bloomberg puts the value of CI’s MA business at $3 billion and mentioned that talks between the parties might not lead to a deal,” explained analysts. The Bloomberg report follows the cancellation of talks regarding a HUM and CI merger last week.

Bernstein believes the most likely buyers would be ELV “and other multi-market Blues with HCSC the more likely one.”

“The assumption was that this sale was a pre-cursor to buying HUM and focused on improving likelihood of regulatory approval. If CI sells its MA business, we think this still may be to facilitate a future HUM acquisition – looking to improve CI’s earnings and consequently its share price over the next year, while paving the way for easier regulatory approval,” analysts added.

Bernstein continues to believe CI will need to add growth businesses to its portfolio of more mature segments, although it acknowledges it will not require an immediate deal.