UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Arjuna Capital

Arjuna Capital cut its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 10.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 8,276 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 962 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.2% of Arjuna Capital's investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Arjuna Capital's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,335,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the first 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. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter worth $42,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.4%

Shares of NYSE UNH traded up $4.30 on Friday, hitting $303.81. The company had a trading volume of 9,789,082 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,703,876. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $248.88 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The business has a 50 day moving average of $314.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $440.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $275.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.72, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.45.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.39% and a return on equity of 26.29%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.91 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.91%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 37.02%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on UNH shares. Hsbc Global Res cut UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. HSBC reiterated a "reduce" rating and issued a $270.00 target price (down from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. UBS Group dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $385.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Wall Street Zen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Monday, May 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $415.00.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO John F. Rex acquired 17,175 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $291.12 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,986.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief financial officer directly owned 203,796 shares of the company's stock, valued at $59,329,091.52. This represents a 9.20% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total value of $179,645.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,390. The trade was a 5.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have acquired a total of 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

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.