WellPoint Reaffirms Fiscal View, Shares Higher

WellPoint (NYSE:WLP) reaffirmed its fiscal 2011 earnings guidance in the range of $7.18 to $7.28 a share on Tuesday, sending its shares higher as investors cheered the optimistic forecast.

Analysts on average are expecting the nation's largest health benefits company by membership to earn just $7.09 a share, according to a Thomson Reuters poll.

WellPoint’s view includes net investment gains of 28 cents a share during the fourth quarter.

The Indianapolis-based company, which operates the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, will discuss this view with securities analysts and investors on Tuesday. It will reveal 2012 guidance during its fourth-quarter earnings call on Jan. 25.