Why These Five Stocks Are Trending Today

Policy Change at Express Scripts

Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ:ESRX) is in the spotlight after the pharmacy benefits manager promised it to implement a program in 2017 that caps spending per patient for various diabetes drugs. Given that diabetes can lead to more costly diseases if not controlled, it is in Express Scripts’ best interest to keep their customers as healthy as possible by ensuring compliance and affordability. Express Scripts’ goal is to limit the rise in diabetes drug costs for its customers to around half of the industry forecast (which is currently 18% for 2017). A total of 51 funds from our database had a bullish position in Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ:ESRX) at the end of June, down by six funds from the previous quarter.

H & R Block Misses, Shares Down 10%

H & R Block Inc (NYSE:HRB) lost $0.55 per share on revenue of $125.18 million for its fiscal first quarter, missing the estimates by $0.02 and $7.44 million, respectively. Although the fiscal first quarter typically represents less than 5% of annual revenues for the company, traders nevertheless sold first and asked questions later. It remains to be seen whether H & R Block’s subsequent quarters will follow the same pattern of under-performance. At the end of June, 20 investors tracked by us owned shares of H & R Block Inc (NYSE:HRB), unchanged over the quarter.

AstraZeneca Settles 

AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) is trending after it settled a foreign bribery case with the SEC for $5.5 million. Regulators were originally investigating the drug company for potentially making improper payments to various healthcare officials in Russia and China to boost sales. By settling the case, AstraZeneca puts to bed a risk factor and improves focus on its core operations. The number of funds from our database long AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN)  went up by six to 24 during the April-June period.

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