The healthcare plan market needs some good news after UnitedHealth (UNH) traded at lower highs from Dec. 2023 through the end of March. That will have to wait.
Reuters reported that hackers claimed it had UNH’s stolen data. Should they provide proof that their ransomware accessed private data, it might increase the amount to pay hackers.
Drawn by the discount, investors are cautiously accumulating UNH stock. Humana (HUM) is rebounding, up by 6.81% from its 52-week low. In this sector, both Cigna (CI) and CVS Health (CVS) are the most attractive picks.
In the aerospace sector, Boeing (BA) continues to handle the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigations. This time, a whistleblower claimed that the firm dismissed safety and quality concerns for Boeing’s 787 and 777 jets.
BA stock is about to break below its 52-week low of $176.25 today. Shares face steep resistance at the 50-day and 200-day simple moving average.
In the small-cap segment, be wary of holding the Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). U.S. small businesses have the lowest confidence in over 11 years. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index report indicated another drop.
Cautious investors have yet to see the growth in mega-cap firms like Microsoft (MSFT) lifting the prospects of small businesses. Inflation, risks of a recession, and higher labor costs are hurting small business owners.
