(Reuters) - Drug retailer CVS Health Corp (NYSE: CVS) is in talks to buy health insurer Aetna Inc (NYSE: AET), the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing sources.

Aetna's shares closed up 11.5 percent at $178.60, after hitting $184.98.

CVS Health's stock closed down 2.9 percent at $73.31.

Aetna had a market cap of $53.2 billion as of Wednesday's close, according to Thomson Reuters data.

(Reporting by Divya Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)