Earnings Report

Merck posted weaker-than-expected sales amid stronger competition from generic medicines, while the pharma heavyweight posted a full-year profit view that bracketed the Street's view. 

Pfizer reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, helped by sales of new treatments for cancer, nerve pain and arthritis.

Pfizer reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings helped by cost cuts and growing sales of recently approved cancer medicines.

The medical device maker reported improved earnings in the third quarter despite lagging sales of pacemakers and backed its full-year outlook.

CVS Caremark's 2Q profit rose slightly more than expected, as profit growth at the pharmacy benefits management unit helped buoy modest improvements at the drugstores. 

Weight Watchers International Inc. (NYSE:WTW) on Thursday reported third-quarter net income of $21.8 million.

Insurer American International Group Inc (NYSE:AIG) reported a 5.6 percent jump in quarterly operating profit, driven by investments in one of China's biggest insurers and earnings from aircraft leasing company AerCap.

The health insurer's first-quarter earnings fell 4.1%, partly due to integration and other charges, while its  revenue and membership rolls increased.

The insurer expects to grow its Medicare Advantage plans in 2014 despite government funding cuts, however it merely reaffirmed a full-year outlook that is slightly below expectations. 

WellPoint posted a decline in first-quarter profit on reform costs but benefited from an increase in medical enrollment. 

Cigna posted lower fourth-quarter profits as medical costs increased, and offered a soft full-year outlook. 

The health insurer revealed a 68% decline in fourth-quarter profit on an across-the-board decline in membership, but it expressed optimism about enrollment in the new year.  

Cigna's 3Q profit beat analysts' expectations as revenue increased and it managed medical costs in its commercial business.

Aetna reported a lower-than-expected profit for the 3Q, when cuts in government funding hurt results in the private Medicare business.

UnitedHealth's 3Q profit rose about 1% as an additional 275,000 people in its health insurance plans offset higher Medicare operating costs.

Humana's 2Q  profit rose 18% as membership grew and premiums increased. 

The No. 2 U.S. drugmaker revealed considerably shy second-quarter revenues Tuesday, but profits narrowly surpassed Wall Street's view. 

UnitedHealth posted a bigger-than-expected rise in second-quarter earnings more people enrolled in its government-backed and private plans. 

The upcoming economic calendar is sparse by comparison to last week: manufacturing reports, trade data and more earnings.

All times are Eastern.