Coventry 2Q profit estimate below analysts' predictions

BETHESDA, Md.—Managed health plan provider Coventry Health Care Inc. on Friday issued a second-quarter profit prediction below Wall Street's forecast.

Coventry expects to earn $1.03 or $1.04 per share for the period, while analysts polled by Thomson Financial estimate profit at $1.10 per share, on average.

The company also projected second-quarter revenue of $2.95 billion to $3.1 billion, while analysts expect $3.07 billion.

For the full year 2008, Coventry expects to earn $4.39 to $4.50 per share on $11.99 billion to $12.49 billion in revenue. Analysts forecast profit of $4.43 per share on $12.37 billion in revenue.