UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) - What Are Brokerages Thinking About This Stock?

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive: 20 of 28 brokerages rate UnitedHealth a buy, with an average 12-month price target of $463.93; the stock opened at $394.14.
• Quarterly earnings beat expectations: EPS was $4.69 versus $4.14 forecast, and revenue of $112.72 billion exceeded estimates, though it was down 0.4% year over year. The company set FY 2026 EPS guidance at $20.50.
• Investors face both income and risk considerations: UnitedHealth declared a $2.32 quarterly dividend, while utilization and policy uncertainty remain concerns for medical costs and regulation.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $463.93.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on UNH shares. Truist Financial increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $440.00 to $480.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $450.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $526.00 to $487.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 27th. New Street Research set a $402.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their price objective 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.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.4%

NYSE UNH opened at $394.14 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $353.78 billion, a PE ratio of 22.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.51. UnitedHealth Group has a 52 week low of $255.96 and a 52 week high of $461.62. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $390.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $364.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.14 by $0.55. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.53% and a return on equity of 17.95%. The business had revenue of $112.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.31 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.59 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 20.500- EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group will post 20.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 7th will be paid a dividend of $2.32 per share. This represents a $9.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 7th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 53.00%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Patrick Conway sold 1,169 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.00, for a total transaction of $455,910.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 15,328 shares in the company, valued at $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 SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. General Partner Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $512,000. PBCay One RSC Ltd acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter worth about $14,343,000. Lee Johnson Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at $6,180,000. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. now owns 38,510 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $16,006,000 after purchasing an additional 4,557 shares during the period. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 135.9% during the second quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors now owns 5,495 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $2,284,000 after purchasing an additional 3,166 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about UnitedHealth Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ETFs purchased $56.4 million of UNH shares on Nov. 4, a potentially supportive demand signal. ETFs Are Buying UnitedHealth (UNH) on Nov. 4
• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth’s Q3 adjusted EPS of $4.69 topped analyst expectations, and a recent earnings analysis said the results bolstered confidence in a margin recovery. UnitedHealth (UNH) Q3 Earnings Lift Confidence In Margin Recovery
• Positive Sentiment: A Zacks article characterized Wall Street analysts’ view of UNH as a Buy, offering a favorable sentiment signal, though the article summary did not cite a specific new rating change. Wall Street Analysts See UnitedHealth (UNH) as a Buy: Should You Invest?
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.32 per share, equivalent to $9.28 annually and a reported yield of 2.3%. UnitedHealth Group Declares Quarterly Dividend Of $2.32 Per Share
• Negative Sentiment: Utilization and policy concerns remain an overhang for the company, highlighting uncertainty around medical costs and the regulatory environment. Utilization and Policy Concerns Weigh on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)
• Negative Sentiment: Renewed calls for a regulatory review of UnitedHealth’s business scale, alongside warnings that AI could disrupt large healthcare companies, add longer-term risk concerns. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Draws Breakup Pressure As AI Threat Enters The Story

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health care company that provides health benefits and health services through two main businesses: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. UnitedHealthcare offers health insurance and related benefit plans to individuals, employers and government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Optum provides services across the health care system, including care delivery, pharmacy services, pharmacy benefit management, health technology and data analytics. Its businesses serve consumers, health care providers, employers, health plans and government organizations.

Founded in 1977 as United HealthCare Corporation, the company is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

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