Investors want to see whether Aetna Inc. can turn in a strong second-quarter performance of its own Tuesday following good results from the country's other biggest health insurers.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Hartford, Conn., company is the third-largest health insurer based on enrollment. The two companies ahead of it — UnitedHealth Group Inc. and WellPoint Inc. — have already reported second-quarter earnings that trounced expectations. Their recent performances gave a boost to other health insurance stocks, but Aetna shares already had a lot of momentum — it's up about 42 percent in 2013.

Investors have gobbled up health insurance shares this year. Analysts say they're growing more comfortable with the health care overhaul's impact on the sector.

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