News

This new authorization “directly reflects our confidence in strong cash flow and the creation of long-term value for investors,” the company's Chief Financial Officer Dan Durn said in a statement on Tuesday. The stock rose about 2% in New York after-hours trading on Tuesday, after closing at $247.18. The stock has fallen 29% so far this year. This buyback authorization comes just two years after the company announced another $25 billion buyback plan in March 2024, which is now nearly complete.

CVS Health has refused to participate in the weight-loss drug coverage plan, while UnitedHealth Group expressed skepticism toward the initiative, citing "significant challenges and unresolved issues" in the plan's structure. The government’s plan would require insurers to cover weight-loss medications under the federal Medicare program, which could cost health insurance companies billions of dollars in the first year and may force them to raise premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans. (Bloomberg)

This Chicago-based airline stated that it expects adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter to be between $1 and $2. According to data compiled by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the midpoint of this range, $1.50, is lower than analysts' average expectation of $2.08. The company expects full-year earnings per share to be between $7 and $11, while the general market expectation is around $9.58. United Airlines noted that, based on data as of April 17, it anticipates fuel costs for this quarter to be about $4.30 per gallon, highlighting the pressure from rising energy costs. The airline said it expects to recover only 40% to 50% of the increase in fuel costs through ticket prices and other revenue measures in the second quarter, rising to 70% to 80% in the third quarter, and reaching as high as 85% to 100% in the fourth quarter.