BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp Raises Stock Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• British Columbia Investment Management Corp increased its shareholding in UnitedHealth Group by 8.4%, acquiring an additional 33,249 shares, bringing its total to 431,319 shares worth $225.9 million.
• UnitedHealth Group's stock has a market capitalization of $278.13 billion, with a current 52-week range between $234.60 and $630.73, highlighting significant volatility.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, which translates to an annualized yield of 2.9% for investors.

BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 8.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 431,319 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 33,249 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.4% of BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp's investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $225,903,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% during the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% during the 1st quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, Copia Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Baird R W cut UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Hsbc Global Res cut UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $355.00 to $286.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $310.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Fifteen 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, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $365.38.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the chief executive officer owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,390. This represents a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 1.2%

UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $3.7480 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $307.0980. The company had a trading volume of 14,867,565 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,438,662. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $234.60 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The firm has a market cap of $278.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $288.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $387.54.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). The business had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.04% and a return on equity of 23.32%. UnitedHealth Group's revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.80 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. Equities 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 38.30%.

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.