Humana (HUM): analysis in plain words
Is Humana cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Humana (HUM) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in healthcare and pharma. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Humana according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Humana (HUM) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $417.42 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 39.5x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +26.2% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 0.9% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | Net cash (more cash than debt) | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.85% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $50.1 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Humana figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any HUM figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Humana makes money
Humana is a health insurer built around Medicare Advantage, the private plans that replace traditional Medicare for U.S. seniors and its main revenue source. Its Insurance segment covers those plans plus Medicaid and drug coverage, while CenterWell runs primary care clinics, pharmacy services and home health care.
Over the last 12 months, Humana brought in revenue of $145.7 billion. For every 100 it sells, Humana keeps 13.7 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 3.5 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 67,060 full-time employees, that is about $2 million of revenue per employee.
Humana against its sector
To know whether a Humana figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Humana with the median of the 30 healthcare and pharma companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Humana | healthcare and pharma median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 39.5x | 31.3x (30) |
| Revenue growth | +26.2% | +8.3% (33) |
| Net margin | 0.9% | 14.9% (33) |
| Dividend yield | 0.85% | 1.52% (33) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | -2.5x | 1.6x (31) |
In short, against the typical healthcare and pharma company, Humana trades on a higher P/E, grows faster and earns a thinner margin. By size, Humana ranks number 26 of 28 healthcare and pharma companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Humana
What works in favour of Humana, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Humana grew sales +26.2% in its latest quarter against the same quarter a year earlier, while the median healthcare and pharma company Fintols tracks grew +8.3%.
- Analysts expect Humana earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 24.4x, below the current 39.5x.
- Humana holds more cash than debt (net cash), so it does not depend on lenders to keep investing and is better placed to ride out a bad year.
The main risk for Humana
Humana runs on a thin net margin (0.9%, against a healthcare and pharma median of 14.9%): a rise in costs can easily wipe out profit.
And, like the rest of healthcare and pharma, Humana is exposed to a key drug losing patent protection or a clinical trial failing, plus government pressure on prices.
Frequently asked questions about Humana
Is it a good time to buy Humana stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Humana, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Humana stock trades at $417.42, 9% below its 52-week high ($456.50) and 156% above its low ($163.11). Its P/E is 39.5x against a healthcare and pharma median of 31.3x, and 24.4x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Humana, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Humana pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Humana pays $3.54 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 0.85%. It uses 33% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 0.87%. The healthcare and pharma median on Fintols is 1.52%.
Is Humana stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Humana trades at 39.5x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the healthcare and pharma median (31.3x). Including its debt, Humana is valued at 11.4x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Humana expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Humana's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Humana with Moderna, Dexcom and Edwards Lifesciences, which are also in healthcare and pharma. As of November 4, 2026, Moderna is worth $103.2 billion; Dexcom is worth $33.0 billion and trades on a P/E of 34.8; Edwards Lifesciences is worth $57.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 59.1. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Humana below.
Humana competitors
- Moderna (MRNA) analysis · Humana vs Moderna comparison
- Dexcom (DXCM) analysis · Humana vs Dexcom comparison
- Edwards Lifesciences (EW) analysis · Humana vs Edwards Lifesciences comparison
To understand Humana better
- DCF and WACC Explained: A Practical Valuation Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Humana: healthcare and pharma stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full HUM analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Humana, not investment advice.