Connors Investor Services Inc. Raises Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Connors Investor Services Inc. increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 227.3%, holding 25,673 shares worth approximately $8 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Analysts have boosted their target prices for UnitedHealth Group, with Sanford C. Bernstein raising it from $379 to $433, indicating strong market confidence in the stock.
• UnitedHealth Group declared a quarterly dividend of $2.21, translating to an annualized yield of 2.4%, with a current payout ratio of 38.30%.

Connors Investor Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 227.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 25,673 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 17,829 shares during the quarter. Connors Investor Services Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $8,009,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bayforest Capital Ltd lifted its stake 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 buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% in the 1st quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Trust Co lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 53.8% in the 2nd quarter. Kentucky Trust Co now owns 143 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 74.0% in the 1st quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC now owns 87 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cloud Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter worth about $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on UNH shares. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $379.00 to $433.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $352.00 to $386.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $440.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $325.00 to $395.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, September 12th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $350.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $385.13.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $361.29 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $327.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.47. 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 1 year low of $234.60 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $335.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $341.42.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.04% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The company had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.75 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.80 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group's quarterly revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th were given a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group Company 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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