Aviso Financial Inc. Increases Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Aviso Financial Inc. increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 2.2%, bringing its total to 122,636 shares valued at approximately $64.23 million, making it the firm's 10th largest position.
• UnitedHealth Group's stock is performing well, currently up 12.0% with a market capitalization of $275.34 billion and a PE ratio of 13.17.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, which gives an annual yield of 2.9% and a payout ratio of 38.30%.

Aviso Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 2.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 122,636 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 2,612 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up approximately 3.2% of Aviso Financial Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Aviso Financial Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $64,231,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% during the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,165,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% in the first quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 90 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,135 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,080,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 5.1% in the first quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Net Worth Advisory Group raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the first quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 3,642 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,907,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 12.0%

UNH opened at $304.02 on Monday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $630.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The stock's fifty day moving average is $288.91 and its 200-day moving average is $395.81. The company has a market capitalization of $275.34 billion, a PE ratio of 13.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.43.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%. The company had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $6.80 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.30%.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total transaction of $179,645.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,171,390. This represents a 5.36% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James Financial downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Wall Street Zen downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 24th. Argus downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, TD Securities restated a "hold" rating and issued a $308.00 target price (down previously from $520.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $366.52.

UnitedHealth Group 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.

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