Aetna Earns #9 Ranking in Barron's 500.

-- Moves up from #116 in prestigious financial news publication --

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it has been ranked ninth in Barron's annual ranking of the top 500 companies in the United States and Canada. Barron's, one of the nation's leading

The methodology used by Barron's to grade and rank the top 500 companies comprises four equally-weighted measures. For each company, Barron's rates stock price performance relative to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index for the 52 weeks ended April 27; the median cash-flow return on investment for the past three years and in the current fiscal year compared to the three-year median; and sales growth in the latest fiscal year, adjusted for acquisitions and divestures. The companies are then awarded a "grade-point average" for each metric, which resulted in Aetna's ranking. The top company in this year's survey was investment bank Goldman Sachs.

"We are very pleased to have been named a top performer in the Barron's 500 rankings," said Ronald A. Williams, Aetna chairman and CEO. "We have a disciplined strategy based on understanding very targeted customer needs. Demonstrating an ability to consistently meet those needs is creating preference for Aetna in the marketplace and is key to delivering sustained, long-term profitable growth. This ranking, our financial performance, and the recently reported results of a benefit consultant survey showing that Aetna has 'best in class products and services,' serve as a reaffirmation that our strategy is working."

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 34.9 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com