Jefferies Maintains a 'Buy' on Aetna (AET) Better Q4; Raising Numbers on Conservative Guidance

Jefferies maintains a 'Buy' on Aetna (NYSE: AET) price target raised from $56 to $58.

Jefferies analyst says, "We are incrementally more positive on AET following a strong finish to 2011, and additional details that suggest upside to 2012 EPS guidance. 4Q11 EPS beat by 6% (ex-a non-recurring tax item), and membership was encouraging. Importantly, AET is seeing no meaningful cost trend uptick in ANY of its sectors, 2012 Medicare MLR guidance improved, and it has more deployable cash."

Jefferies raises FY12 EPS estimate from $5.04 to $5.08)

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Aetna click here. For more ratings news on Aetna click here.

Shares of Aetna closed at $45.07 yesterday.

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