Shares of healthcare provider Aetna (AET) surged 40% this year on the back of several better-than-expected earnings results that were helped by the company's ability to keep costs down.
Aetna shares took off earlier this year after the company raised its full-year guidance well above the analysts' forecasts.
Little more than two months later, Aetna once again raised its guidance, saying it now expected to earn between $4.10 and $4.20 a share.
The company also substantially increased its dividend and restructured its payout schedule to quarterly from annually and now pays15 cents per quarter compared with its previous payout of 4 cents per year.
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