From an investors’ perspective, PBMs make money. From a global perspective, just because PBMs make money doesn't mean they are effective at lowering costs.
I don’t think we can completely separate these two observations. If PBM’s are really and truly providing no benefits to their clients, isn’t it only a matter of time until this becomes common knowledge? When it does, how will PBM’s be able to hit their growth targets or even sustain their existing profitability?
If what you are saying is true, the PBM stocks would seem to be better candidates for short positions than long ones.
“The efficient-market hypothesis may be the foremost piece of B.S. ever promulgated in any area of human knowledge!”