(Bloomberg) — Aetna Inc., the third-biggest U.S. health insurer, says third-quarter profit rose, defying analyst predictions for a decline, as the company boosted revenue from premiums and medical costs stayed stable.
Earnings excluding one-time costs climbed to $1.55 a share, 21 cents above the average estimate of 19 analysts tracked by Bloomberg. Full-year profit is now expected to be about $5.10 a share, at the top end of Aetna’s previous forecast, the Hartford, Conn.-based carrier said last week in a statement.
