WellCare posts 3Q profit and narrows 2009 outlook

WellCare profit beats Wall Street estimates, shades full-year forecasts higher

• On 11:17 am EST, Wednesday November 4, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) -- Managed care provider WellCare Health Plans Inc. said Wednesday it turned a profit in the third quarter due to lower medical and general expenses.

WellCare provides Medicare and Medicaid managed care to about 2.3 million people, and it reported a profit of $28.7 million, or 68 cents per share. Excluding one-time costs, profit rose to 82 cents per share. The company took a loss of $18.2 million, or 44 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 2 percent, to $1.67 billion from $1.64 billion. Thomson Reuters says analysts were expecting a profit of 67 cents per share and $1.66 billion in revenue.

The company also narrowed its annual forecasts. In morning trading, WellCare shares jumped $2.64, or 10 percent, to $28.96, and set an annual high of $31.50.

For the full year, WellCare now projects a profit of $2.90 to $2.95 per share, up from $2.75 to $2.95. WellCare expects $6.8 billion to $6.85 billion in premium revenue in 2009, compared with a broader range of $6.75 billion and $6.85 billion.

Analysts expect a profit of $2.93 per share and $6.85 billion in total revenue.