Connecticut-based The Cigna Group (CI) is a leading global health services provider with a market cap of $73.9 billion. Serving more than 178 million customers across 30+ countries, the company operates through two main divisions. Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services.

The healthcare behemoth has significantly underperformed the broader market over the past year. Cigna’s stock has plunged 14.5% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 20.6% surge during the same time frame. Moreover, on a YTD basis, CI stock has soared 1.6%, trailing the $SPX’s 9.6% rally in 2025.

Zooming in further, Cigna has also struggled to keep up with the SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF’s (XHS) 1.6% fall over the past year and 2.9% rise on a YTD basis.

On Aug. 5, Wolfe Research announced that bonus payment thresholds for private Medicare Advantage plans to qualify for bonus payments could become less stringent in 2026. The news boosted investor sentiment across the health insurance sector, and Cigna shares gained over 1%.

For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts project Cigna’s EPS to improve 8.7% year-over-year to $29.70 per share. The company has surpassed consensus earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters, while missing the mark on another occasion. 

Among the 22 analysts covering the CI stock, the consensus rating is a “Strong Buy.” That’s based on 16 “Strong Buy,” two “Moderate Buy,” and four “Hold” ratings.

This configuration is slightly more bullish than two months ago, when 15 analysts gave it a “Strong Buy” recommendation.

On Aug. 4, Guggenheim cut its price target on Cigna from $388 to $350 but kept a “Buy” rating, citing investor concerns over cost trends and margins despite strong fundamentals, steady guidance, and 44 years of uninterrupted dividends. 

Cigna’s mean price target of $367.52 represents a 31% premium to current price levels, and its Street-high target of $428 indicates a 52.6% upside potential.