Coho Partners Ltd. Sells 66,538 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Coho Partners Ltd. lowered its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 29.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 158,085 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 66,538 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 5.0% of Coho Partners Ltd.'s portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position. Coho Partners Ltd.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $82,797,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $22,384,000 after buying an additional 28,231 shares during the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $27,233,000. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,033,000 after buying an additional 2,324 shares during the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 263,655 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $133,373,000 after buying an additional 9,872 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 12.8% in the fourth quarter. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,086 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $549,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $302.04 on Friday. 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 company has a market cap of $273.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.65, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.44. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $248.88 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $359.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $462.77.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 in the previous year, the business earned $6.91 EPS. Research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.93%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.02%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $288.57 per share, for a total transaction of $25,019,019.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 679,493 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $196,081,295.01. This trade represents a 14.63% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,533 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were bought at an average price of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,935,386.40. The trade was a 34.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last three months, insiders purchased 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on UNH. HSBC reaffirmed a "reduce" rating and set a $270.00 price objective (down previously from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Raymond James Financial lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Robert W. Baird lowered UnitedHealth Group from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $312.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. Hsbc Global Res lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and set a $360.00 price target (down previously from $580.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, May 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $427.09.

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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