With March Madness just around the corner, Anthem CEO Gail Boudreaux takes home the 2022 NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award. Now the former standout basketball player and track and field athlete looks to lead the managed medical care giant to an all-time high.
Anthem made the latest list of new buys by the best mutual funds along with managed care peers UnitedHealth and Apollo Medical.
With the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield brands powering its lineup, the Indiana-based company also earns a spot on the IBD Leaderboard list of top growth stocks to watch.
From Hoops To Health Care
Known as the "Teddy," the NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award is the highest honor the NCAA may award to an individual. The annual award goes to a distinguished citizen of national reputation and outstanding accomplishment.
Prior to becoming Anthem CEO in 2017, Boudreaux was a standout basketball player and track and field athlete at Dartmouth from 1978-82. And before taking the reins at Anthem, she served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest division within UnitedHealth Group.
Forbes named Boudreaux one of The World's Most Powerful Women for 2021.
Anthem Nets 102% Earnings Growth
Steady revenue growth is one key that grabs the attention of the best mutual funds. Over the last three years, Anthem has posted average annual sales growth of 15%. Annual earnings growth for the PPO (preferred provider organization) and HMO (health maintenance organization) leader has averaged 16% during the same period.
On Jan. 26, Anthem released Q4 and 2021 earnings results, posting a 102% spike in Q4 EPS growth. That marked a second quarter of acceleration. In the release, Boudreaux noted that Anthem "begins 2022 with ongoing momentum across all our businesses."
Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves more than 118 million people, including over 45 million within its family of health plans. It has roughly 98,000 employees.
Can Anthem Score Renewed Breakout, All-Time High?
After briefly poking its head above an early 461.64 buy point earlier this month, Anthem went on to briefly clear a conventional entry at 470.12. Since then, the stock has pulled back, slipping below its 50-day moving average.
On Friday, Anthem retook that line with a nearly 3% gain. It fell below that benchmark during Monday's session, but reversed higher off its lows to end the day just above the line. In a sign of resilience, the relative strength line remains near its highs.
A continued decline may imply the stock needs to initiate a new base.
Anthem sports a 96 Composite Rating, topping industry peers UnitedHealth (93) and Apollo Medical (77).
While the stock market indexes remain in a correction, look for Anthem to solidly regain support above its 10-week and 50-day lines and establish a fresh all-time high.
Follow Matthew Galgani on Twitter at @IBD_MGalgani.
