Aetna

AET loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[AET  Loading...      ()   ], with a 36 percent increase in its share price year to date, almost seems like a sure thing in the No. 20 spot in the 2011 top S&P stocks countdown.

Trader Brian Kelly said Monday on “Fast Money” that the challenges facing the insurance giant is one that affects the industry as a whole.

“Their investment portfolio may not be earning that much, he said. “But now that you’ve taken a lot of the credit risk off the table, you get a strong stock market here. That’s going to be a tailwind for Aetna. Not only that, valuation-wise it still looks compelling.”

The stock traded midday at $41.52. Its 52-week high was $46.01, with a low of $29.80 and EPS of $4.72.

Trader Steve Grasso noted that the U.S. Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a challenge to the Affordable Care act in March.

“That could be a headwind, and we know the market is always forward-looking,” he said.

Kelly remained undeterred.

“That’s a long way away,” he said. “I’m going to get into it today.” 

• See More: 2011 Top S&P 500 Stocks

______________________________________________________
Got something to to say? Send us an e-mail at and your comment might be posted on the Rapid Recap. If you'd prefer to make a comment, but not have it published on our Web site, send those e-mails to .

Trader disclosure: On Dec. 5, 2011, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders: Grasso owns AKS, AMR, ASTM, AVAV, BA, BAC, D, LIT, MHY, PFE, PRST, S, XLU; Kelly is long IWM, Kelly is long EURO, Kelly is long Italian bonds, Kelly is long KRE, Kelly is long Aussie dollars;

Steve Grasso
Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own CSCO

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own CUBA

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own GERN

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own GM

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own HPQ

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own HSP

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own HSPO

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own JPM

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own MET

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own MSFT

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own MU

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own NYX

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own PRST

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own RDC

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own UAL

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own WFT

Stuart Frankel & Co. and its partners own XRX

Patrick McKeever
No disclosures

Thomas Lee
No disclosures

Jens Nordvig
No disclosures

Chris King
Verizon Communications, Inc. is on the Stifel Nicolaus Income Opportunity Ideas List. This Income Opportunity Ideas List represents our Stifel Nicolaus analysts’ best yield ideas, however is not intended to represent a model portfolio. Each stock is on the Buy List, and offers what Stifel Nicolaus analysts believe are companies with solid fundamentals, a favorable valuation, and a current dividend higher than that of the S&P 500 Index. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. makes a market in the securities of Verizon Communications, Inc.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Comcast Corporation in the next 3 months.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. makes a market in the securities of Sprint Nextel.

AT&T, Inc. is on the Stifel Nicolaus Income Opportunity Ideas List. This Income Opportunity Ideas List represents our Stifel Nicolaus analysts’ best yield ideas, however is not intended to represent a model portfolio. Each stock is on the Buy List, and offers what Stifel Nicolaus analysts believe are companies with solid fundamentals, a favorable valuation, and a current dividend higher than that of the S&P 500 Index. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. makes a market in the securities of AT&T, Inc..