How consistent is ELV's earnings growth trend?

Elevance Health (ELV) has demonstrated inconsistent earnings growth over the past three years, with fluctuations in net income year-over-year. Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Recent Performance**: ELV's net income for 2023Q4 was $831 million, which decreased by 5.26% from the previous quarter's $877 million.
2. **Trend Analysis**: The trend shows a decline from 2022Q4 to 2023Q4, with a net income decrease of 5.26%. However, there is no data available for the fourth quarter of 2024, which makes it difficult to assess the continuation of this trend.
3. **Year-over-Year Comparison**: When comparing the most recent data available (2023Q4) with the previous year's fourth quarter (2022Q4), the net income growth rate was -0.26%. This indicates a contraction in earnings over the same period in the prior year.
4. **Long-term Trend**: The long-term trend of ELV's earnings growth appears to be inconsistent, with a significant decline in net income from 2022Q4 to 2023Q4, and the absence of data for the fourth quarter of 2024 prevents a comprehensive assessment of the ongoing trend.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income YoY|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2022 Q1|6.718656268746251|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2022 Q2|-9.272626318711827|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2022 Q3|6.391478029294275|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2022 Q4|-25.614927905004244|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2023 Q1|12.647554806070826|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2023 Q2|13.586291309669523|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2023 Q3|-18.64831038798498|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2023 Q4|-5.245153933865451|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2024 Q1|12.225548902195609|169|
|ELV|ELV.N|Elevance Health|2024 Q2|23.976293103448278|169|

In conclusion, ELV's earnings growth trend has been inconsistent, with a notable decline in net income from 2022Q4 to 2023Q4. The lack of data for the fourth quarter of 2024 makes it challenging to determine if this trend has continued. Further, the absence of positive growth data for the most recent period compared to the previous year's same period suggests that ELV may be facing challenges or has experienced a downturn in its financial performance.