Comerica Bank Trims Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Comerica Bank decreased its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 5.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 263,385 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 15,809 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group makes up approximately 0.5% of Comerica Bank's portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Comerica Bank's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $133,236,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $11.37 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $400.07. The company's stock had a trading volume of 9,289,533 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,571,255. The firm has a market capitalization of $364.15 billion, a PE ratio of 25.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $497.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $529.82. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $399.53 and a 52 week high of $630.73.

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

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $664.00 to $563.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Hsbc Global Res downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Oppenheimer decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $600.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $700.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 17th. 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. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $596.86.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

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.