UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Banque Pictet & Cie SA

Banque Pictet & Cie SA lessened its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 0.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 325,054 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 1,988 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises approximately 1.4% of Banque Pictet & Cie SA's portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Banque Pictet & Cie SA's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $170,247,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. LBP AM SA boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 11.1% during the first quarter. LBP AM SA now owns 35,609 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $18,650,000 after purchasing an additional 3,571 shares during the period. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 18.3% during the first quarter. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,958 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,026,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the period. Court Place Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.8% in the first quarter. Court Place Advisors LLC now owns 4,882 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $2,557,000 after buying an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 68.6% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 499 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $261,000 after buying an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dogwood Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,374 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $720,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $5.62 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $302.08. 12,778,535 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,611,336. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $248.88 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $274.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $320.63 and a 200 day moving average of $444.69.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.39% and a return on equity of 26.29%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.91 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.02%.

Insider Activity

In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,533 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 6,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,935,386.40. This trade represents a 34.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Kristen Gil acquired 3,700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $271.17 per share, for a total transaction of $1,003,329.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 3,818 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,035,327.06. This trade represents a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $552.00 to $353.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Baird R W lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. TD Securities reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $308.00 price target (down previously from $520.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $418.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, June 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $415.00.

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.