Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. Has $98.73 Million Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 1.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 188,499 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 2,822 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 1.9% of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $98,726,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, 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 acquired at an average cost of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,033 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,935,386.40. The trade was a 34.07% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $288.57 per share, with a total value of $25,019,019.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 679,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $196,081,295.01. The trade was a 14.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Mizuho reduced their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $515.00 to $350.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, June 6th. TD Securities reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $308.00 price objective (down previously from $520.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, May 19th. TD Cowen lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $563.00 to $374.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $426.52.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 1.6%

NYSE:UNH traded down $5.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $313.39. The company's stock had a trading volume of 11,370,931 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,175,406. The stock has a market cap of $284.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $248.88 and a twelve month high of $630.73. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $391.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $476.22.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $6.91 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.02%.

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.