So, you’re looking for the stock symbol for Humana. It’s HUM.
Three letters. Simple enough, right? But honestly, if you’re just looking for those three letters to plug into a ticker search, you’re missing the actual story of what’s happening with this company right now. Humana isn't just another health insurer; it’s basically a massive bet on how aging Americans get their healthcare.
The stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). As of mid-January 2026, things are getting... interesting. The price has been hovering around $273, which is a far cry from the highs we saw a couple of years back. If you’ve been watching the charts, you know it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.
Why the HUM Ticker is Everywhere Lately
You’ve probably seen the headlines. Humana has been through the wringer with its Medicare Advantage (MA) business. For a long time, Humana was the darling of the MA world. They focused on it more than almost anyone else. But then, the government—specifically the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—started tightening the purse strings.
Last year, one of Humana’s massive plans got its "Star Rating" slashed from 4.5 to 3.5. That sounds like a boring bureaucratic tweak. It isn't. It’s a multi-billion dollar headache because those stars dictate the bonuses an insurer gets.
Right now, the market is trying to figure out if Humana can recover its margins by 2027. Some analysts are shouting "Buy the dip!" while others are sitting on their hands. It’s a classic tug-of-war.
The Trump Factor and the "Great Healthcare Plan"
We can't talk about the stock symbol for Humana in 2026 without mentioning the political landscape. Just yesterday, President Trump unveiled his "Great Healthcare Plan."
The administration wants to move away from direct government "payoffs" to insurers. Instead, they’re talking about sending subsidies directly to individuals.
- The Bull Case: Lower regulation and a push for more private-sector competition could favor a specialist like Humana.
- The Bear Case: If the government stops subsidizing the big insurers directly, the guaranteed cash flow that made HUM a "safe" stock for decades might start to look a lot shakier.
Mizuho Securities actually just came out with a note saying they see the upcoming 2027 Medicare Advantage rates as a potential "positive catalyst." Basically, they think the worst news is already priced in.
Dividends: The Small Silver Lining
If you're holding HUM for the long haul, you’re probably looking at the dividend. They just paid out $0.885 per share on January 30, 2026.
The yield isn't massive—somewhere around 1.3%—but they’ve been consistent. They’ve actually been paying a dividend since the early 90s, though there was a long gap where they focused on growth instead of payouts. Since 2011, they've been hiking it pretty regularly.
Who is Humana Actually Fighting?
When you buy HUM, you aren’t just buying a symbol. You’re competing against the titans.
- UnitedHealth Group (UNH): The 800-pound gorilla. They are way more diversified than Humana.
- CVS Health (Aetna): They have the pharmacies; Humana has the clinics (under the CenterWell brand).
- Elevance Health (ELV): Formerly Anthem, they have a massive Blue Cross Blue Shield footprint.
Humana is leaning hard into its CenterWell brand to try and diversify. They’re buying up primary care practices and home health providers. The idea is simple: if you own the doctor's office and the insurance plan, you can control the costs better.
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What You Should Actually Do Now
If you’re looking at the stock symbol for Humana as a potential investment, don't just look at the price-to-earnings ratio (which is sitting around 25.6). Look at the "Star Ratings" coming out later this year.
The company is exiting 194 counties in 2026 to try and cut losses. They are literally shrinking to grow. It’s a bold move.
Actionable Insights for Investors:
- Watch the Enrollment Numbers: Humana originally thought they’d lose 500,000 members this year. Now they think they're keeping about 75,000 more than expected. That’s a good sign.
- Check the Litigation: Humana is suing the government over those Star Ratings. If they win, the stock could pop. If they lose... well, you know.
- Diversification Check: Keep an eye on CenterWell’s revenue. If the clinics start making up a bigger slice of the pie, the stock becomes less sensitive to government policy shifts.
The bottom line? HUM is at a crossroads. It’s no longer the "set it and forget it" healthcare stock it was in 2019. It’s a high-stakes play on the future of American aging and the whims of Washington D.C.
To stay ahead, track the 2027 Medicare Advantage benchmark rates which are expected to be released in the coming months; these will be the ultimate "make or break" for the stock's recovery narrative. Keep a close eye on the CenterWell expansion into the "The Villages" in Florida as a litmus test for their primary care success.