3,597 Shares in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH Acquired by Heartland Bank & Trust Co

Key Points

• Heartland Bank & Trust Co. acquired 3,597 UnitedHealth shares worth approximately $1.5 million in the second quarter. Institutional investors collectively own 87.86% of UNH.
• UnitedHealth reported quarterly EPS of $6.38, beating estimates by $1.44, while revenue reached $112.03 billion. The company maintained 2026 EPS guidance of $19.50–$20.00 and pays an annualized dividend of $9.28 per share.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $455.92, though rising health-care costs and the company’s CEO selling 500 shares present potential concerns.

Heartland Bank & Trust Co bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 3,597 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $1,495,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 220.0% during the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 80 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Joseph Group Capital Management purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting UnitedHealth Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth is reportedly prioritizing Medicare Advantage profitability over rapid membership growth by tightening benefits, improving pricing and controlling costs. The strategy could support stronger margins and more sustainable earnings, even if enrollment growth moderates. Is UnitedHealth Finding a Better Path to Medicare Advantage Growth?
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research added UNH to its Rank #1, or “Strong Buy,” lists for overall stocks, value stocks and income stocks. The repeated favorable rankings may reinforce investor confidence in the shares. New Strong Buy Stocks for August 21st
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised several forward EPS estimates, including Q1 2028 to $7.36 from $6.78 and Q2 2028 to $7.19 from $5.84. A separate report also noted an increase in the Q1 EPS estimate, while Zacks maintained a Strong Buy rating. Q1 EPS Estimate for UnitedHealth Group Increased by Analyst
• Neutral Sentiment: Forecast revisions were mixed: Q3 2027 EPS was reduced to $4.74 from $4.81 and Q4 2027 to $4.07 from $4.12, partially offsetting the increases for 2028.
• Negative Sentiment: Aon expects U.S. employer health-care costs to rise 9.5% in 2027. Persistent medical-cost inflation could pressure insurers’ margins and increase pricing, benefit and utilization-management challenges for UnitedHealth. AON Sees No Relief From Health-Cost Inflation

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE UNH opened at $390.94 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $413.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $356.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.78. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $255.96 and a 1 year high of $461.62. The company has a market capitalization of $350.90 billion, a PE ratio of 25.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $1.44. The business had revenue of $112.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $110.81 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 16.53% and a net margin of 3.14%.The business's quarterly revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.08 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 19.81 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 14th will be given a dividend of $2.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 14th. This represents a $9.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $429.00 to $441.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. DA Davidson set a $512.00 price target on UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Wall Street Zen raised UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Mizuho raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $470.00 to $493.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $466.00 to $516.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $455.92.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $410.00, for a total transaction of $205,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 16,497 shares in the company, valued at $6,763,770. This represents a 2.94% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

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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