Elevance Health

Gail Boudreaux, CEO of Elevance Health, began her career as a professional basketball player in France before joining Aetna. She is now the highest-ranking female CEO on the 2026 Fortune Global 500, leading Elevance Health with $199.1 billion in revenue. Boudreaux attributes her leadership style to her athletic background, emphasizing teamwork and adaptability.

U.S. stocks rose as BlackRock and other companies reported strong profits, while oil prices fluctuated near one-month highs due to the Iran war. Inflation data showed slower-than-expected increases, reducing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

Technology stocks led global markets higher as AI sector gains momentum, with the S&P 500 rising 0.4% and the Nasdaq up 0.6%. South Korea’s Kospi surged 6.2%, driven by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while ASML reported stronger-than-expected revenue growth linked to AI demand. BlackRock and major banks saw stock gains amid strong earnings reports, and U.S. inflation slowed, easing pressure on the Federal Reserve.

Elevance Health Inc. reported second-quarter profit of $1.46 billion with adjusted earnings of $7.45 per share, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $6.18 per share. The company's revenue reached $50.47 billion, exceeding forecasts of $48.45 billion, and it projects full-year earnings of $27 per share.

Elevance Health sued the U.S. government, claiming federal recalculation of its Medicare Advantage quality ratings violated a recent court ruling, resulting in a $115 million loss. The lawsuit, filed in Georgia, challenges the impact of revised star ratings on the insurer's eligibility for bonuses and rebates tied to quality thresholds.

Elevance Health, a Medicare Advantage company, paid $342 million to the U.S. government to settle allegations of overcharging Medicare for years. The payment followed a CMS enforcement action demanding corrections to billing practices, marking the first time CMS secured such a large repayment from a Medicare Advantage plan.

CFOs are leading AI spending management as companies invest heavily in the technology, implementing budgets and controls to prevent cost overruns. Match Group and Elevance Health are examples of firms introducing structured AI budgets, usage tracking, and vendor selection processes to balance innovation with financial oversight.

A federal judge ruled that Peter Haytaian, a former top executive at Elevance Health, must testify under oath in a Department of Justice fraud case involving Medicare Advantage plans. Elevance had blocked the deposition, claiming Haytaian lacked relevant knowledge despite overseeing government health plans for over four years during the alleged overbilling period. The ruling represents a significant victory for the DOJ in a six-year-old case.