UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Cut to "Hold" at Erste Group Bank

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank downgraded UnitedHealth Group to “Hold” from “Buy,” while the broader analyst consensus remains “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $456.56.
• UnitedHealth shares fell 1.2% to $396.28, below the 50-day moving average but above the 200-day average; the stock’s 12-month range is $255.96 to $461.62.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of $6.38, exceeding the $4.94 consensus estimate, and revenue of $112.03 billion. Management maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $19.50–$20.00.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at Erste Group Bank from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note issued on Thursday, Marketbeat reports.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho lifted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $470.00 to $493.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Robert W. Baird raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $287.00 to $453.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $420.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $440.00 to $480.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $456.56.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded down $4.73 during trading on Thursday, hitting $396.28. 804,047 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,749,665. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $413.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $359.04. UnitedHealth Group has a 12-month low of $255.96 and a 12-month high of $461.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $355.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.51, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.94 by $1.44. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.14% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The business had revenue of $112.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $110.81 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.08 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 19.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 1,169 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.00, for a total transaction of $455,910.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 15,328 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,977,920. The trade was a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Synergy Financial Group LTD boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 3.1% during the second quarter. Synergy Financial Group LTD now owns 887 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $369,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. LFG Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% in the second quarter. LFG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 853 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $355,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.2% during the 2nd quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC now owns 419 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $174,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Rockland Trust Co. boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% in the second quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 2,589 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,076,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 24.8% in the 2nd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 146 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company's benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.

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