1248 Management LLC Takes Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

1248 Management LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 3,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $1,527,000. UnitedHealth Group makes up 0.7% of 1248 Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth about $6,375,744,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $1,914,740,000. Amundi raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 97.2% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 6,069,100 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $3,183,132,000 after purchasing an additional 2,991,470 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 76,830.4% during the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,888,641 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $955,388,000 after buying an additional 1,886,186 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 12.5% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,503,671 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $4,807,527,000 after acquiring an additional 1,058,488 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded down $1.96 on Friday, reaching $398.72. The company's stock had a trading volume of 11,384,114 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,611,075. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $393.11 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $495.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $528.45. The company has a market capitalization of $362.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.91 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $600.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $510.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $525.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Raymond James reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating and set a $540.00 target price (down previously from $635.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $596.86.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.