Gradient Investments LLC Buys 13,960 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Gradient Investments LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 14.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 110,967 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 13,960 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.2% of Gradient Investments LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Gradient Investments LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $58,119,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on UNH shares. TD Securities reissued a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 target price (down previously from $520.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $677.00 to $351.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Wolfe Research decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $501.00 to $390.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $552.00 to $353.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Finally, HSBC restated a "reduce" rating and set a $270.00 price target (down from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $428.43.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director John H. Noseworthy bought 300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $312.16 per share, for a total transaction of $93,648.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,063 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,892,626.08. The trade was a 5.21% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 1,533 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $320.80 per share, for a total transaction of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,033 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,935,386.40. This represents a 34.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have purchased 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH traded down $1.95 during trading on Thursday, hitting $298.43. The stock had a trading volume of 6,278,513 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,908,382. The firm has a market cap of $270.72 billion, a PE ratio of 19.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $248.88 and a 12 month high of $630.73. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $418.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $488.12.

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

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.