ING Groep NV Raises Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Key Points

• ING Groep NV increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 4.2%, now controlling 122,145 shares worth approximately $63.97 million as of the end of the last quarter.
• UnitedHealth Group announced a quarterly dividend increase to $2.21 from $2.10, representing an annual yield of 3.7%.
• Despite a year-over-year revenue increase of 12.9%, UnitedHealth Group reported an EPS of $4.08, missing analyst expectations by $0.37.

ING Groep NV lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 4.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 122,145 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 4,871 shares during the period. ING Groep NV's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $63,973,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,165,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% in the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 90 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,135 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,080,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, Net Worth Advisory Group boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 3,642 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 4.9%

Shares of UNH opened at $237.40 on Monday. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $296.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $414.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $215.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.29, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $234.60 and a 1-year high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%. The business had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.80 EPS. The company's revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $2.21 dividend. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 38.30%.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $288.57 per share, with a total value of $25,019,019.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 679,493 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $196,081,295.01. This trade represents a 14.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Kristen Gil acquired 3,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $271.17 per share, with a total value of $1,003,329.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 3,818 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,035,327.06. The trade was a 3,135.59% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have purchased 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNH has been the subject of several analyst reports. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $350.00 to $300.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Baird R W cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird restated an "underperform" rating and set a $198.00 price objective (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $418.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, June 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $373.52.

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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