UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Bristol John W & Co. Inc. NY

Bristol John W & Co. Inc. NY decreased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 2.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 221,179 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 6,112 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises about 1.8% of Bristol John W & Co. Inc. NY's portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Bristol John W & Co. Inc. NY's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $111,886,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded up $2.49 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $297.49. 15,930,911 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,692,516. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The company has a market cap of $269.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $443.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $500.04. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $248.88 and a 52-week high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. The company had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.91 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on UNH. TD Cowen downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $510.00 to $356.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $355.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Erste Group Bank cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $400.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $441.87.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CFO John F. Rex bought 17,175 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 16th. The shares were bought at an average price of $291.12 per share, with a total value of $4,999,986.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer now directly owns 203,796 shares in the company, valued at $59,329,091.52. This trade represents a 9.20% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 1,533 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $320.80 per share, for a total transaction of $491,786.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,935,386.40. The trade was a 34.07% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have purchased 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768. 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.