Voluntary Benefits

Shares of Cerner Corp. jumped Friday after the electronic medical records company posted strong first-quarter results and increased contract bookings, and raised its expectations for the full year.

Merck & Co. on Friday said its first-quarter profit more than tripled as strong sales of key drugs and lower costs from integrating its Schering-Plough acquisition offset competition from generic drugs that slashed sales of two heart drugs.

Humana Inc. reports first-quarter financial results on Monday before the market opens.

THE RESULTS: Health insurer Aetna Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $586 million, or $1.50 per share. Revenue fell 3 percent…

WellPoint Inc. said a drop in expenses helped raise its first-quarter net income nearly 6 percent, as it became the third big health insurer in the past week to beat analyst expectations and raise its 2011 earnings forecast.

Starmount Life Insurance Co.is now in business in 49 states with its recent admission in New Hampshire.