Molina Healthcare, Inc.
Health Care · Managed Health Care
Structural: pure-play government managed care - Medicaid (~80% premiums), Medicare/D-SNP, and Marketplace. Lean operator vs $UNH / $ELV / $CNC / $CVS; revenue/share scales with new state RFP wins + tuck-in acquisitions (Bright Health, AgeWell, ConnectiCare).
Capitated model = MCR is the alpha lever; consensus long-term target band 88-89%.
(1) State Medicaid redetermination cycle is normalizing - acuity mix should improve into 2026 as healthier members return via Marketplace churn-back. (2) Dual-eligible (D-SNP) is the highest-margin growth leg; CMS integration rules favor Medicaid-anchored operators.
(3) New-state expansion pipeline (Iowa, Michigan, Virginia rebids) provides organic premium growth without M&A premium. (4) Lean SG&A vs peers gives operating leverage if MCR stabilizes. (5) Buybacks + zero dividend = pure compounding capital return.
(1) Medicaid rate notices in 2025-26 have lagged medical cost trend - MCR de-anchored above target through redetermination period. g. California, New York, Texas) is binary and material - concentration risk vs diversified $UNH. (3) Marketplace cohort acuity remains elevated post-COVID; Trump-era subsidy cliff (enhanced APTCs expire 12/2025) risks churn + adverse selection.
(4) Medicare Advantage star-rating cuts + v28 risk-model phase-in pressure 2026-27 revenue. (5) Politicized reimbursement - any federal Medicaid block-grant push compresses multiple structurally.
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