CVS Shares Rise 2.29% on Legal Ruling, $650M Volume Ranks 133rd

CVS Health Corp. (CVS) rose 2.29% on August 18, 2025, with a trading volume of $0.65 billion, ranking 133rd in market activity. The stock's performance followed a significant legal ruling that could impact its liability costs related to the opioid crisis.

The Delaware Supreme Court denied coverage for over 2,300 lawsuits against CVS under its general liability insurance policies. The court ruled that claims seeking economic damages from governments, hospitals, and third-party payors did not meet policy requirements for "bodily injury" or "property damage" coverage. This decision aligns with a 2022 ruling in a similar case involving Rite Aid, where insurers successfully defended their position against opioid-related claims.

CVS argued its pharmacist liability provisions offered broader coverage than Rite Aid's policies, but the court rejected this claim. The justices emphasized that even detailed allegations about treatment costs and medication volumes did not qualify as individualized injury claims under policy terms. The ruling also dismissed CVS's argument that property damage claims should be treated differently from bodily injury claims.

The outcome strengthens insurers' positions in ongoing disputes over opioid litigation coverage. Other corporate defendants, including McKinsey & Co. and Meta Platforms Inc., face similar legal battles in Delaware. The decision may increase financial exposure for CVS, which had reached a $5 billion national settlement in 2022 but now faces uncovered litigation costs.

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