Sooner or later, someone is going to acquire someone else in the super-heated health insurance sector. The question is: Who will be the buyer, and who will be the seller?

The latest rumors, as reported yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, have UnitedHealth acquiring Aetna.

Not long ago, the takeover rumor mill was betting on Aetna to acquire either Cigna or Humana. But that was then, this is now.

The flurry of interest among the big insurance players is all about balancing out the book of business. Aetna was supposedly going after either Humana or Cigna to get more Medicare business. Now it’s Anthem allegedly sniffing around Humana and Cigna, with Aetna suddenly the hunted rather than the hunter.

In any case, share prices of those involved continue to escalate. Just prior to the closing bell, Aetna’s was up over 3 percent and UnitedHealth up more than 2 percent.

The other three showed less volatility but were clearly still being closely followed. Anyone with a large position in any of those players a month ago could easily afford a dream vacation based up the upswings.

Instant Insights /

Aetna flips from pursuer to pursued, says the Street

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