The CVS Pharmacy logo is seen at a store in Florida Keys, USA, on May 7, 2024.
Jakub Porzycki | Photo only | Getty Images
Glenview Capital, a major CVS Health The shareholder is expected to meet with company leadership on Monday to propose solutions to the troubled company, people familiar with the matter say, a potential precursor to an activist push.
The hedge fund has built a sizable position in the company, some people said. Glenview invests in a variety of sectors, but its most recent regulatory filings show that the company holds positions in these sectors HundredsCVS and Teva Pharmaceuticals under other names.
Details of Glenview's proposals could not be learned. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Glenview would meet with CVS management, including CEO Karen Lynch.
Shares of CVS rose more than 3% in premarket trading on Monday.
A CVS spokesman said the company “maintains a regular dialogue with the investment community as part of our comprehensive shareholder and analyst engagement program.”
“Furthermore, we cannot comment on engagement with specific companies or individuals,” the spokesperson said.
CVS shares are down 22% year-to-date. The meeting with Glenview is not CVS's first encounter with an activist. Earlier this year, Sachem Head Capital Management, the prominent activist fund led by Scott Ferguson, disclosed in regulatory filings that it had built a stake in the company.
Jeff Smith's Starboard Value also built a stake in the company in 2019 and also held discussions with management.
Investor confidence in CVS has fallen after three straight quarters of full-year forecast cuts.
The company's bottom line is being hurt by higher medical costs in its insurance segment – an issue plaguing the entire healthcare industry as more seniors undergo procedures they had delayed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the American Medical Association, CVS owns Aetna, the country's third-largest health insurer by market share. The company's insurance unit includes Aetna's Affordable Care Act, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans, as well as dental and vision insurance.
In its second-quarter results in August, CVS announced a leadership change based on the performance and prospects of its insurance division. The company said CEO Lynch will replace segment president Brian Kane, effective immediately.
Meanwhile, CVS faces increasing pressure in the pharmacy retail space. Reimbursement rates for prescription drugs have fallen in recent years, while inflation and weaker consumer spending have made it harder for CVS locations to turn a profit in stores.
CVS unveiled a new plan in August to cut costs by $2 billion over several years, including streamlining its operations and increasing the use of artificial intelligence. The company is also finalizing a three-year plan to close 900 of its stores, with 851 locations scheduled to close by August.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.