Argent Capital Management LLC Sells 205,654 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Argent Capital Management LLC significantly reduced its stake in UnitedHealth Group, selling 205,654 shares and now owning just 792 shares as of the second quarter.
• UnitedHealth Group reported earnings of $4.08 EPS for the most recent quarter, which fell short of analysts' expectations by ($0.37).
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, which will be paid to shareholders on September 23rd, indicating a 2.6% yield.

Argent Capital Management LLC lessened its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 99.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 792 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 205,654 shares during the quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $247,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNH. Bayforest Capital Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% in the 1st quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Copia Wealth Management purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, O Brien Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 74.0% in the 1st quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC now owns 87 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.4%

UNH stock opened at $341.49 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $296.49 and a 200 day moving average of $362.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $309.27 billion, a PE ratio of 14.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.44.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.04% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The business had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.80 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on UNH. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $440.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $352.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 4th. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $379.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $358.95.

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.

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