Drama With Obamacare and Humana Over, Aetna Results ‘Crush’

After dropping a deal for one of its biggest rivals and largely quitting Obamacare, health insurer Aetna Inc. may have been better off sticking to its knitting all along.

The insurer raised its full-year forecast after posting second-quarter results that exceeded analysts’ expectations, helped along by its core business running health benefits for employers. Earlier this year, it called off a takeover with Humana Inc., and it has also pulled back from doing business in the Affordable Care Act -- insulating itself from Washington’s health-care turmoil.